Lawler Needs to Put Up or Shut Up: Support Discharge Petition to Extend ACA Tax Credits
As the Government Moves to Reopen, Rep. Lawler Doubles Down on Half Measures on Health Care Costs to Avoid Real Solutions
NEW YORK — Yesterday, Congressman Mike Lawler appeared on NPR’s Morning Edition, where he doubled down on his refusal to meaningfully extend expiring ACA tax credits, offering instead a one-year extension with no concrete plan to address the skyrocketing cost of insurance premiums. He has so far refused to sign on to the discharge petition that would force a vote on a longer, three-year extension.
“Congressman Lawler continues to fall short of the moment. He loves to get in front of a camera but refuses to get behind any real solutions to deal with the ever-rising cost of health insurance premiums,” said Dylan Wheeler, NY-17 Regional Organizing Director for Empire State Voices. “‘Band-Aid’ fixes and half measures won’t work here. Working New Yorkers don’t deserve to be strung along year-to-year, not knowing what’s around the next corner or whether they’ll continue to be able to afford their care. Congressman Lawler needs to get serious and sign on to the discharge petition to force a vote on extending these vital tax credits. He’s either for real solutions or just showboating for the cameras.”
Republicans have created an affordability crisis for New Yorkers: they have cut Medicaid and SNAP while raising energy and health care costs. More than 118,000 New Yorkers rely on ACA tax credits to afford their insurance premiums, including 7,000 residents of Rep. Mike Lawler’s district. Because of these price hikes, the Urban Institute estimates that 4.8 million Americans will be unable to afford their premiums and be forced off their insurance next year.
To learn more about Empire State Voices, please reach out to press@empirestatevoices.org
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About Empire State Voices
Empire State Voices (ESV) is a multi-year campaign dedicated to amplifying the voices of everyday working New Yorkers. ESV is fighting for economic policies that make life more affordable for constituents and holding members of Congress across the state accountable when they fail to do the same.
