Local reaction to planned healthcare vote

July 24, 2017 9:18 pm

By: Samantha Fenlon

Email: sfenlon@abc6.com

Twitter: @SFenlonABC6

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Monday afternoon, President Trump made last minute push to Republicans to get the votes to send the bill to the floor for debate.

"The American people have waited long enough there’s been enough talk and no action," said President Trump.

Hours later, Rhode Island’s Senators took their own stand after that appeal, speaking at length on the Senate floor about why they believe repealing and replacing Obamacare is not the answer.

"Their proposals are bad for my state of Rhode Island and bad for the country as a whole," said Senator Jack Reed.

ABC6 News spoke to Senator Whitehouse by phone, who said there’s one message in particular he hopes to get across to his colleagues.

"I think the key is to remind our colleagues that it’s real people who they’re hurting in pursuit of a political trophy," said Senator Whitehouse.

That’s exactly the message advocate Sarah Groh, originally from Warwick, wants to get across. Groh’s mother is in remission from leukemia. Groh says her mom owes her life to the Affordable Care Act.

"She had hit what was called a lifetime cap so if this had been pre-affordable care act basically we would have been in a really tough position," said Groh. "When you’re sitting by somebody’s hospital bed and they’re faced with this incredibly daunting diagnosis to know that they can give this their all. It’s not about being able to rally your community around you."

On the eve of a Senate vote that could be the first step towards overturning it, she told ABC6 News she’s devastated.

"I think second to sitting next to my mom’s bed holding her hand when she was diagnosed, this is the most scared I’ve ever felt."