The following article by Meghan Davy Sandvold was posted on the Eden Prairie News website June 22, 2017:
EDEN PRAIRIE — Faith leaders and constituents of District 3 recently gathered outside U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen’s Eden Prairie office. They said they were mourning the potential deaths of those who may not be alive for long if significant changes are made to their health care plans.
Clergy and faith leaders from Congressional District 3 gathered outside of Paulsen’s oce at 250 Prairie Center Drive in Eden Prairie, on Wednesday, June 21, to raise awareness of the impact the proposed American Health Care Act could have on thousands of Minnesotans.
“We’re here as a prayer vigil. I think everyone knows that if God forbid there was an accident on this corner and someone died, there would be that name, a white cross and flowers set up to mark the tragedy of an untimely death,” said Grant Stevensen, a clergy member with Isaiah, which organized the event. Isaiah is a faith-based coalition of congregations across Minnesota that “fight for racial and economic justice.”
“We’re here because one death is not imminent, but thousands, not just across the country, but in this district,” Stevensen said.
Attempts to reach Paulsen’s office for comment were unsuccessful on Thursday.
As Washington debates the repeal of the Aordable Care Act (ACA) and the restructuring of Medicaid, the event was organized as a memorial for those who will lose their lives if the American Health Care Act becomes law, according to Isaiah.
“I’m worried for myself, I’m worried for my parents who are thinking about Medicaid and Medicare and going through that transition now,” said Nathaniel Nordberg, a 34-year-old middle school science teacher and father of two young children with a lifelong heart condition, who could be seriously affected by the repeal of the ACA.
“I’m worried for my kids, because the way life goes you can turn on a dime, and my life is very important not just for them but for my two kids. I’m their dad, I want to be here for them, and if I’m not here I don’t want the burden to go onto my wife to deal with the financial issues and the possibility of losing a house,” Nordberg said.
The gathering was part of a national day of action, called “Don’t Take Health Care from Families to Give Tax Breaks to the Rich and Corporations.” According to a release from Isaiah, 241,000 Minnesotans stand to lose health care if the ACA is repealed.
The release stated that Rep. Paulsen voted in favor of the AHCA in May of this year, even though it would strip or significantly reduce healthcare for thousands of people in his district. “Though with a slightly dfferent bill moving in the Senate, Paulsen will have an opportunity to shift his vote to favor his constituents and not corporate dollars when it returns to the House,” the group stated in its release.
The AHCA takes coverage away from 23 million people, increases costs for older people and people with pre-existing conditions, weakens consumer protections and alters Medicaid for seniors, children and people with disabilities who had Medicaid before passage of ACA, the release said.
According to Isaiah, the AHCA would also provide over $600 billion in tax breaks to the richest households and big corporations. National organizations including AARP, the American Cancer Society, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Hospital Association, the Catholic Council of Bishops, the March of Dimes and many other groups oppose the AHCA. Recent polls confirm that voters also oppose this repeal by a 3 to 1 margin and it is the single least popular piece of federal legislation in decades.
View the post here.