On Wednesday, Democratic senators blasted Republicans’ proposed replacement for Obamacare as a “death sentence” for more than 6 million U.S. Latinos who will lose health care coverage. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that under the Senate Republican legislation roughly 22 million Americans will lose their health insurance by 2026; Latinos represent 6 million of those to be affected, with 1 million being children, according to the National Council of La Raza.
“This is not a healthcare reform, but rather a death sentence for many who will lose their insurance and medical coverage, and in particular for the Hispanics in this country and the less-privileged,” Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey said in Spanish.
Democratic senators Bob Menendez, Tim Kaine of Virginia, and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada were joined by major Hispanic organizations such as the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) and the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda. According to Menendez, the GOP proposal will destroy the progress the Hispanic community made under the 2010 Affordable Care Act of the Obama administration.
“A bad process ends with a bad product,” Senator Tim Kaine from Virginia said, referring to the secrecy that surrounding the crafting of the Republican bill.
The reactions that followed the release of the CBO report prompted Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to delay a vote on the Republican bill until after the Fourth of July recess. The Republican initiative would have a particularly negative impact on Medicaid, which covers 34 percent of Hispanics.
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