I know not a single Republican voted for the Democrats’ Affordable Care Act, which is rather odd considering it was their plan that was enacted, not the Democrats’.
What Republicans seemed to have forgotten is that we enacted their version of the ACA, in 1974. President Richard Nixon proposed, in essence, today’s Affordable Care Act and 30 years later, then Massachusetts-Gov. Mitt Romney, another Republican, made Nixon’s plan the law in Massachusetts.
Democrats wanted to model the health care reform on Social Security and Medicare, and fund it through the payroll tax.
Insurance companies loved Butler’s plan so much it found its way into several bills introduced by Republican lawmakers in 1993. Among the supporters were Sens. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Charles Grassley, R-Iowa (who now oppose the mandate under the Affordable Care Act). Newt Gingrich, who became speaker of the House in 1995, was also a big proponent.
So why are today’s Republicans so upset with an act they designed and their patrons adore? Because it’s the signature achievement of the Obama administration, and since all Republicans have done since day one is try and make Obama look bad, they certainly cannot allow a black man to receive credit for this achievement — and the other reason that may not be so obvious: Republicans are still continuing their war on women.
Republicans have always been anti-women. One of the big reasons Romney was not elected was because of his stance on women. Women overwhelming voted for Obama; we were afraid of what would happen to our rights if Romney was elected.
The Affordable Care Act helps women in many ways and we all know how Republicans feel about their women folk.
The ACA forces all plans to cover all FDA-approved birth control methods without co-pays (from pills to IUDs to sterilization procedures). Also included are checkups, HIV screenings and family-planning sessions.
Republicans do realize that in many ways it’s still largely a man’s world, but hey, guess what, as of 2014, under the Affordable Health Care Act, women cannot be charged more than men for individual coverage. You may be shocked to learn that in 30 percent of cases, non-smoking women were charged more for health insurance than men who smoke. And, believe it or not, insurers at the present time can charge women more than men for individual coverage. But it’s game over in 2014, when such unfair gender bias will finally be illegal and banned.
Maternity care cannot be denied and, really, why would Republicans not be happy about this? They are, after all, the pro-life party and what could be more pro-life than this? Beginning in 2014, under the Affordable Care Act, all individual health plans must include a list of 10 so-called essential health benefits. These include maternal care, along with prescription drugs and hospitalization, among other essential health benefits.
For nursing mothers, beginning in 2011, the Affordable Care Act required employers to provide a private place for female employees who are breastfeeding, as well as the break time needed to pump breast milk. Additionally, health plans must now cover the cost of breastfeeding equipment and counseling. So why would the pro-life party be against breastfeeding mothers, you ask yourself?
So next time you see a Republican, especially a Republican woman, remember they have a lot of cognitive dissonance going on in their heads. Try and be patient with them. Hopefully soon they will see the light and come to the other side.