The following statement is attributable to Héctor Figueroa, President of 32BJ SEIU:
“The Texas federal judge’s appalling ruling striking down the Affordable Care Act could
take us back to the dark days where a preexisting condition could be a death sentence or a prescription for bankruptcy. If upheld by the Supreme Court, the ruling could take away healthcare for 133 million people with preexisting conditions and strip away countless other consumer protections.
“The ruling subverts the will of the voters who, just weeks ago, overwhelmingly supported candidates who not only vowed to protect the Affordable Care Act, but to expand it.
“The case, brought by 16 conservative states and lauded by the Trump administration, is yet another attack from Republicans on vital programs that are popular and relied on by millions. The ruling comes weeks after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell openly acknowledged that he will move to cut Medicare and Social Security to pay for his tax breaks for the wealthy. McConnell’s admission and the Texas ruling are grim reminders that we must fight for our health care and retirement security on many fronts. Corporate-backed politicians and judges will not stop until working people are left with nothing.”
With 163,000 members in 11 states, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property services union in the country.
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