U.S. Senate Democrats blasted the House GOP health care bill on Wednesday following release of the Congressional Budget Office’s report.
The analysis found that 23 million fewer people would be insured by 2026 than under the current healthcare law.
Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal described the American Health Care Act this way:
“It is a nightmare. It has no pulse because it has no heart. It is heartless, and it is dead – or should be – dead on arrival,” he said.
Blumenthal said the bill imposes, in effect, an age tax on older Americans.
“Seniors are going to find – if this measure ever became law – that the tax credits for healthcare are completely restructured to their detriment,” he said.
In addition, Blumenthal said the Republican measure hurts women’s health care, and decimates care for those battling opioid abuse and addiction.
Republicans defending the bill said it moves the nation toward a more affordable health care system and reduces the federal deficit.