WASHINGTON, D.C. (Island News) -- Seventeen House Republicans joined efforts to revive subsidies that expired just a week ago, allowing a crucial vote to take place on Capitol Hill.
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are now trying to bring them back to life.
Hawaii Representative Jill Tokuda addressed the urgency of this issue saying this should have been done at the end of last year before they expired.
When Tokuda spoke on the house floor on Thursday, she made a point that this is not a political issue, it's far more serious than that, it's life or death for millions of Americans who now face skyrocketing health care premiums. These are higher costs that force them to make difficult decisions.
"'I’ve talked to people in Hawaii who've told me that they can't afford their health insurance,” Tokuda said “That means they don't know if they can buy their insulin that they choose food for their kids over how much insulin they should take, not what's best for them, not what could save their life and prolong their lives."
"This is not about blue state, red state, purple state. This is about people. Americans, everyday. Hard working Americans,” Tokuda added.
Now that measure goes to the Senate, where it has what experts are calling a slim chance of passing, Tokuda said she's a hopeless optimist, and getting 17 Republicans to break rank today may be a good omen.
There are about 25,000 people in Hawaii who use Affordable Care Act health plans, but Tokuda emphasized it impacts far more than just those people—if there is more uncompensated care, more uninsured individuals coming through the hospital doors get passed on to other patients.
By: Jai Cunningham
Source: KITV