Affordable Care Act
As President Trump creeps up on the 100 day mark of his presidency, many of his campaign promises are being attempted. Although as some expected, they aren’t being as successful as previously guaranteed. A major campaign promise to undo former President Obama’s Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) was a major flop when presented to Congress last week. The repeal decision hadn’t even garnered enough support in anticipation to the official vote which quickly prompted Speaker Paul Ryan to pull it off the House floor before it was formally decided on.
The controversial piece of legislation insures a plethora of different racial, age and socioeconomic groups to assure they have basic health care. Currently, it is estimated that around 20 million people have gained health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. As of 2014, a set of data from Enroll America, a group helping people sign up for Obamacare, and Civis Analytics revealed the groups of people who gained insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act
The racial trends can be attributed to the fact that the existing uninsured rates were high enough for some groups already as well as the disproportionate poverty that affects people of color meaning that more people could be covered under Medicaid. Obamacare created a significant stepping stone for Hispanic and Black communities like our own at Southeast to reach a better quality of life. Moreover, the failure to repeal Obamacare left many citizens, and even Trump’s own Republican peers, disheartened in his promises as it was a major commitment made before coming into office.
Furthermore, influential Republican incumbents such as Senator John McCain (R-Az) and Representative Hal Rogers (R-Ky) have been denouncing more of Trump’s campaign promises as he announces them. Earlier this month, when President Trump announced a budget relocation of $54 billion to the military and defense budget, Senator John McCain alongside others spoke out on their profound disapproval. Sen. McCain expressed an overwhelmingly disapproving opinion stating the budget increase was not nearly enough for the “demands of 21st century warfare”. Meanwhile, Rep. Rogers voiced his disapproval although unlike Sen. McCain he argued that the budget additions were “draconian, careless and counterproductive”. Rep. Rogers described the budget increases as careless and harsh because of its source coming from non-defense spending such as the Environmental Protection Agency, PBS, Meels on Wheels and other government programs to name a few. President Trump has met opposition from all ends of the spectrum which is an unusual occurrence especially within the Republican party. The Republicans seem to be cracking under pressure, but only time will tell how and when the breaking point will arrive.