AHCA GOP Wreckage

The Republicans are selling the Brooklyn Bridge.  But if Paul Ryan can shrink government give the rich tax guts, he has fulfilled his goals.  So he smiles his giddy smile and resorts to lies that his bill is a mercy act for Obamacare.  The only death spiral talk came from two companies, Aetna and Humana when they were denied the right to merge (and thereby reduce coverage choices).
A tidbit that I heard last night - AHCA ends coverage for black lung, even if one is able to afford insurance. There are also reductions in treatment for opioid addiction and mental health.  If you have coverage at all.
The worst features of the bill are:

•  the change to Medicaid block grants, first time ever an entitlement program is demolished (perhaps the cause for Paul Ryan's smile),
• the increased premiums coupled with less coverage, the change from large subsidies to tax credits that will mean nothing to low income folks who barely pay taxes
• the inability to reimburse Planned Parenthood for cancer screenings and birth control pills, alleging that nonexistent community health clinics will fulfill the role that Planned Parenthood does now
• the premium increases to the older Americans aged 50-something to 65, when Medicare kicks in
• the huge penalty that someone will incur if they try to enroll after having dropped or lapsed their coverage

But the advocates of the bill - the few who speak publicly about their support - say what makes it great is CHOICE.  Fantastic.  But over 8 years, 24 million loose coverage and the rich get a tax cut.  My projection is that the saving in the projected deficit will be spent on Trump's increased military spending plans or the ridiculous wall.

Speaking of cost -A little aside - I learned that Trump's vow to not accept the Presidential salary is not accurate.  But then nothing he says ever is.  He will accept the salary and then donate it to charity.  So, the government will pay him $400,000 and then he will take a tax deduction for the charitable donation calculated at $158,400.  Not what I call a savings to the federal government.  (Thanks you, Lawrence O'Donnell.)  Not to mention what it is costing for protection for Melania and Barron Trump to live in NYC and the frequent trips to Mar-Lago.  So Trump milks the government.  And we have yet to see his tax returns.

The Trump Administration is  bunch of old white men cashing in - who will hopefully be seen for what they are.  The only salvation may be the 2018 mid-terms.  If we Democrats can communicate the truth.

All this without even mentioning the Trump Russia problem!