An Open Letter to the Coward Cory Gardner, Part 1

Dear Senator Gardner,

I am writing today to ask once again for you to reconsider your support for the Republican Health Care Bill. Even though you were on the super-secret drafting committee, I would like to point out some vital statistics that make the Bill (and you) suspect.

1. There were no women or people of color on the committee. You excluded over 50% of the population from being represented in the authorship of a Bill that will affect ALL OF US.

2. 10 of your 13 authors are ranked among the most conservative members of the Senate. Again, way to exclude representation of the majority of the country.

3. All of you have 100% rating from the National Right to Life Committee. Apparently diversity of thought is not permitted when crafting new legislation.

4. 25% of Coloradans are on Medicare. You're intentionally advocating to compromise the health of 25% of your constituents, after the State accepted the Medicaid expansion.

5. From 2013 to 2016, the uninsured rate for Colorado fell 7.7%. That comes out to 426,622 people who received health care under the ACA, who will probably be screwed under your Bill. You're not really looking out for your constituents.

6. Democrats and Independents, a full 48% of the Senate, were excluded from participating in the creation of your Bill, and denied the opportunity to participate in hearings. So your exclusion of everyone who's "not like you" also includes your own colleagues.

I do not understand the Republican Party or you specifically. You claim to be the party of "family values" and "Christianity," but you've shown damn little indication that you care about families, or about Jesus' teachings. You know, heal the sick, feed the hungry. That sort of thing.

The MAJORITY OF AMERICANS like the ACA and what it's done for our country's health care system. And yet, here you and the rest of the Republicans are, making false claims about its cost to the average citizen. For example, 45 keeps talking about how premiums for Alaskans have increased by 207% since the advent of the ACA based on a report from the Department of Health and Human Services. What he failed to include was the fact that the tax subsidies mean that Alaskans using the exchange are, on average, paying far less than they did before the ACA was enacted. By a lot. By 73%, in fact, thus once again igniting a conflagration in 45's trousers.

It's almost as though you and the rest of your cadre are really interested in going back to the good old days when a minority of rich, white, cis men made all the decisions for the majority with no input or consideration from the majority. This is not okay, as this sort of behavior heralds a desire for an authoritarian regime. I will remind you that supporting such a plan is in direct violation of your Oath of Office.

Signed,

Janiece