Hartford, Ct. – Recognizing that the Senate GOP’s health care bill would have disastrous effects on the state of Connecticut and present major problems for the next governor, the Democrats running for governor and exploring a candidacy for statewide office today came together as a united front in opposition to the proposal, and they are asking every Republican in the race to do the same. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell signed by Dan Drew, Joe Ganim, Jonathan Harris, Kevin Lembo, and Chris Mattei, Democrats point out that the current Trumpcare bill is more than just a federal issue and would cause major harm to the state of Connecticut.

“As you may know, Connecticut has embraced the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and the success has been dramatic,” they wrote. “Our uninsured rate stands at just 3.8%, and 724,000 residents have gained access to quality health insurance — including 217,000 people served by the Medicaid expansion. If the BCRA were to become law, this progress would be in peril, and state leaders would face a stark choice: allow hundreds of thousands of constituents to lose access to health coverage or go it alone and find a way to insure our most vulnerable residents within the state budget.” 

They went on to note that according to estimates from Harvard and the Center for American Progress, between 219 and 265 Connecticut residents would die under this Trumpcare proposal and that the lack of funding to combat the opioid epidemic would have major consequences at the state level.

Democrats are asking all GOP candidates to join them in signing the letter to present a bipartisan show of opposition to the Senate Republican bill.

“Whether it’s today or next week, if this Trumpcare bill passes and the Senate GOP achieves their core mission of enacting the largest transfer of wealth in our country’s history to the detriment of hardworking Americans, it will have wide-ranging effects on the state of Connecticut, putting coverage for the 724,000 people who gained access to health care under the Affordable Care Act at risk,” said Connecticut Democratic Party Chairman Nick Balletto. “Democrats running for governor or exploring a campaign for statewide office have made their position on this bill abundantly clear, but nearly every GOP candidate has been silent. That’s why we’re asking our Republican friends to show Connecticut residents where they stand and join Democrats in fighting to preserve access to health care for Connecticut families. This should be a no-brainer, and they should all sign on to this letter.”

The full letter is available here.