cal04
cal04's JournalWEEKLY ADDRESS: The Affordable Care Act is Here to Stay
Source: White House
In this week's address, the President called the Supreme Court’s decision on the Affordable Care Act a victory for hardworking Americans across the country, whose lives are more secure because of this law. The Affordable Care Act is working, and it is here to stay. So far more than 16 million uninsured Americans have gained coverage. Nearly one in three Americans who was uninsured a few years ago is insured today. The uninsured rate in America is the lowest since we began to keep such records. With this case behind us, the President reaffirmed his commitment to getting more people covered and making health care in America even better and more affordable.
Read more: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/06/27/weekly-address-affordable-care-act-here-stay
Five years ago, we finally declared that in America, health care is not a privilege for a few, but a right for all. And this week, after more than fifty votes in Congress to repeal or weaken this law; after a Presidential election based in part on preserving or repealing this law; after multiple challenges to this law before the Supreme Court, we can now say this for certain: the Affordable Care Act still stands, it is working, and it is here to stay.
On Thursday, when the Court upheld a critical part of the Affordable Care Act, it was a victory for hardworking Americans all across this country whose lives are more secure because of this law. This law means that if you’re a parent, you can keep your kids on your plan until they turn 26. If you’re a senior, or an American with a disability, this law gives you discounts on your prescriptions. You can’t be charged more just because you’re a woman. And you can’t be discriminated against just for having a pre-existing condition.
This law is working exactly as it’s supposed to – and in some ways, better than we expected it to. So far more than 16 million uninsured Americans have gained coverage. Nearly one in three Americans who was uninsured a few years ago is insured today. The uninsured rate in America is the lowest since we began to keep such records.
The law has helped hold the price of health care to its slowest growth in 50 years. If your family gets insurance through the workplace, not through the Affordable Care Act, you’re paying about $1,800 less per year on average than you would be if trends before this law had continued – which is good for workers and it's good for the economy.
The point is, this is not some abstract political debate. For all the misinformation campaigns, and doomsday predictions; for all the talk of death panels and job destruction; for all the repeal attempts – this law is helping tens of millions of Americans. This isn’t just about Obamacare. This is health care in America.
With this case behind us, we’re going to keep working to make health care in America even better and more affordable, and to get more people covered. But it is time to stop refighting battles that have been settled again and again. It’s time to move on.
Because as Americans, we don’t go backwards, we move forwards. We take care of each other. We root for one another’s success. We strive to do better, to be better, than the generation before us, and we try to build something better for the generation coming behind us. With this behind us, let’s come together and keep building something better right now.
This couple waited to get married over 50 years and today they can make their love official.
https://twitter.com/Bipartisanism/status/614492054798733313
Adorable couple together for 55 years marry as Texas AG blasts Supreme Court ruling
http://www.rawstory.com/2015/06/adorable-couple-together-for-55-years-marry-as-texas-ag-blasts-supreme-court-ruling/
WaPo: Bernie Sanders packs thousands into a Denver gymnasium
Bernie Sanders, who’s emerged as Hillary Rodham Clinton’s chief rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, drew an estimated 4,500 people to the University of Denver on Saturday night for what appeared to be one of the largest political rallies of the 2016 cycle.
Sanders, the self-described democratic socialist senator from Vermont, delivered a fiery speech in a packed university gymnasium, where he decried the greed of the billionaire class, saying it is “destroying this nation.” Besides the more than 3,000 people in the gym, others listened in an adjacent atrium, where speakers were set up, and on a nearby lacrosse field, where the speech was streamed on the scoreboard, according to those on the scene.
The extraordinary turnout was the latest evidence that Sanders, 73, has tapped into the economic anxiety of the Democratic electorate. In recent weeks, his crowds have swelled, and his poll numbers have been on the rise, particularly in New Hampshire, the nation’s first primary state.
Sanders touched on familiar themes during his speech, which was streamed live on social media sites Saturday night. He called the nation’s current minimum wage of $7.25 “a starvation wage.” He lamented that the United States does not guarantee medical leave and vacation time. He derided a trade deal being pushed by President Obama, and he urged that more be done to combat climate change.
http://wapo.st/1Lr0UvI
Overflow crowd--biggest for any candidate yet this year--greets @BernieSanders in Denver. Remind me why he can't win?
http://twitter.com/billmckibben/status/612434650741477376/photo/1
Some pics from Denver: John Frank, The official crowd est. for Sanders event: 4,800 to 5,000
Thanks to the more than 5,500 Coloradans who came out to our Denver town hall last night. http://bernie.to/denver-turnout
https://twitter.com/Vic4CO4
massive, overflow crowds to support Bernie Sanders #2016 at town hall in denver, co tonight.
overflow crowd outside!!!
(not sure if this is Denver too)
8,000 RSVP’d online to see @BernieSanders in Denver. Look at this pic from @People4Bernie - and an overflow crowd
This is the view from @BernieSanders' #Denver stage. LOOK AT THAT CROWD!! No joke. There are THOUSANDS. #FeeltheBern
https://twitter.com/People4Bernie
https://twitter.com/veggie64_leslie/status/612452206621667328
BernieSanders event over 5000 in packed house in Denver listening to Neil Young's Old Man Take A Look At My Soul!!!
https://twitter.com/ArnMenconi
https://twitter.com/Women4Bernie
The official crowd est. for Sanders event: 4,800 to 5,000 -- the largest since his May campaign kickoff.
John Frank
Denverpost political reporter and craft beer writer.
https://twitter.com/ByJohnFrank
Big crowd for our town hall meeting this evening in Des Moines, Iowa.(pics)great tweet from
Bill McKibben's twitter 
Since Bernie Sanders can't possibly ever in any way win, it's odd so many people turned out to see him tonite in IA
https://twitter.com/billmckibben
https://twitter.com/BernieSanders
in Des Moines- Healthcare is a right of all people and we have to go forward with a Medicare for all single payer program."
Republicans cut pell grants by $90 million, then they provided huge tax breaks to the top.
Iowans still filing in to see @BernieSanders speak here in Des Moines! It's a full house!
https://twitter.com/Iowa4Bernie/status/609525168977764353
One of many standing O's for Bernie tonight! He covered a LOT of important issues very thoughtfully.
https://twitter.com/Anneotate
https://twitter.com/People4Bernie
videos
Sen. Sanders heard from a marine Friday night in Des Moines
https://twitter.com/nealgoswami/status/609547420029054976
-Former US marine & veteran of Iraq drove 6 hours to hear Bernie in Des Moines today!
To have an idea of what tonight's crowd for @BernieSanders has been like
https://twitter.com/betsy_klein/status/609529250383835136
Sen.Sanders: Family Values Agenda
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) details his family values agenda.
21st Century Dems:The votes are in
http://www.21stcenturydems.orgThe votes are in – and it’s a big win for Bernie Sanders.
Last week, we asked supporters who they would vote for if the presidential election were held today. And 62 percent of you voted for Bernie Sanders.
Bernie Sanders' progressive voice is being heard. From income inequality to climate change, people are listening.
So thanks for taking the time to vote – we wanted to let you know where our supporters stand.
Thanks,
Jennifer Petty
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