News

Washington, DC — Today, President Trump released footage from a “60 Minutes” interview with Lesley Stahl, which he abruptly walked out of this past weekend. It’s clear why he jumped ship. When asked about a health care plan and his lawsuit to destroy the Affordable Care Act in court, the president reaffirmed that he wants the Supreme Court to strike down the law. In response to the newly-released footage, Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach released the following statement:

“Once again, Donald Trump showed us that his only health care plan is his lawsuit, which would take away Americans’ health care in the middle of an ever-worsening pandemic, one week after Election Day. If successful, Trump’s lawsuit would rip health care from over 20 million Americans and end protections for 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions. Trump’s disastrous interview shows he and the GOP have never had any other plan than to completely destroy the ACA and throw the entire American health care system into chaos.”

A Vote for Judge Coney Barrett is a Vote Against Americans’ Health Care

Washington, DC — Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee voted today to advance Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court nomination to a full Senate floor vote, despite her unwillingness to answer questions about Americans’ health care during her hearings last week and President Trump’s transparent intent to rush her onto the court to overturn the ACA. One week after Election Day, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in California v. Texas, Trump’s lawsuit to completely dismantle the Affordable Care Act. Senate Republicans are rushing through Judge Coney Barrett’s nomination while voters are already casting ballots for the 2020 election because they are confident she will be a reliable vote to overturn the ACA in court. In response, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement: 

“With today’s vote, Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee have made crystal clear where they stand on the Affordable Care Act and the protections it provides for more than 135 million people with pre-existing conditions. As her nomination moves to the floor of the Senate, their Republican colleagues should bear in mind that a vote to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett is a vote against Americans’ health care. In a desperate bid to hold onto power, Republicans have been misleading voters ahead of the election about protecting voters with pre-existing conditions, but their actions speak louder than their lies. The truth is, they are in court right now trying to overturn the ACA, the gold standard for protecting people with pre-existing conditions, and they are rushing Judge Coney Barrett onto the court to help them do it.”

Report: Why the ACA Is the Gold Standard for Protecting People with Pre-Existing Conditions

Virtual Tour “Hit the Road” for Events with U.S. Senate Candidate Governor Steve Bullock, Members of Congress and Elected Officials in Colorado, Nevada, Texas, Virginia and Montana

On the fifth week of Protect Our Care’s 16-state “Your Health, Your Vote” virtual bus tour, Protect Our Care held events in Colorado, Nevada, Texas, Virginia and Montana. During each stop, members of Congress, a U.S. Senate candidate, elected leaders, health care advocates and storytellers from each state met in a virtual format to discuss President Trump’s complete mismanagement of the coronavirus pandemic and highlight the danger of allowing President Trump to pick the next Supreme Court justice. California v. Texas, the Trump-Republican lawsuit to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, will be heard one week after the election. If successful, the lawsuit would take away protections for 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions and rip coverage away from over 20 million Americans in the middle of a pandemic.

To date, bus tour stops have included:

• Four United States Senate candidates including Speaker Sara Gideon (ME), Captain Mark Kelly (AZ), Dr. Al Gross (AL) and Governor Steve Bullock (MT)
• Eight United States Senate Democrats including Senators Bob Casey (PA), Tammy Baldwin (WI), Jeanne Shaheen (NH), Tina Smith (MN), Catherine Cortez Masto (NV), Jacky Rosen (NV), Mark Warner (VA) and Jon Tester (MT)
• 13 Democratic Members of Congress including Reps. Matt Cartwright (PA-08), Elissa Slotkin (MI-08), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Dean Phillips (MN-03), Cindy Axne (IA-03), Abby Finkenauer (IA-01), Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01), Jason Crow (CO-06), Dina Titus (NV-01), Susie Lee (NV-03), Colin Allred (TX-32), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) and Abigail Spanberger (VA-07)

COLORADO
Monday, October 12, 2020: Protect Our Care Colorado was joined by Congressman Jason Crow, and Colorado health care advocates to discuss how Trump’s health care sabotage, including a lawsuit to completely dismantle the Affordable Care Act during a pandemic, would impact Coloradans’ care. Participants also called on Senator Cory Gardner to denounce Trump’s war on health care and discussed Democrats’ agenda to improve health care and lower costs for Americans. Advocates urged Senator Cory Gardner to take steps to protect them, and end his attacks on Coloradans’ health care. 

Watch the Event Here

Coverage
Colorado Times Recorder: Crow Criticizes Republicans for Trying to Kill the Affordable Care Act Instead of Working To Improve It

NEVADA
Tuesday, October 13, 2020: Protect Our Care’s nationwide virtual “Your Health, Your Vote” tour arrived in southern Nevada to highlight Republicans’ ongoing war on health care and failed coronavirus response. Headlined by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen and Representatives Dina Titus and Susie Lee, the event highlighted how Trump’s health care sabotage, including a lawsuit to completely dismantle the Affordable Care Act during a pandemic, would impact Nevadans’ care. Speakers included Kevin Scott Carey, President SEIU Nevada Local 1107, Laura Martin, PLAN (Progressive Leadership Alliance Nevada), Raquel Cruz-Juarez, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, and Erika Washington, Make it Work Nevada, who also called on the GOP to denounce Trump’s war on health care and discussed Democrats’ agenda to improve health care and lower costs for Americans.

Watch the Event Here

Coverage
Las Vegas Sun: Top Nevada Democrats Urge GOP to Put Health Care Above Court Politics

TEXAS
Wednesday, October 14, 2020: Protect Our Care’s nationwide virtual “Your Health, Your Vote” tour arrived in Texas to highlight Republicans’ ongoing war on health care and failed coronavirus response. Headlined by U.S. Representatives Collin Allred (D-TX-32) and Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX-07), the event highlighted how Trump’s ongoing war on America’s health care, his lawsuit to completely dismantle the Affordable Care Act during a pandemic, and his failed coronavirus response have had devastating impacts on Texans. They also held Sen. John Cornyn for his failure as part of the Republican Senate leadership to failure Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to negotiate or pass a meaningful coronavirus relief package for Americans who are suffering from the impacts of the pandemic. The House, including Reps. Allred and Fletcher, passed a relief bill 152 days ago, with no meaningful response from the Senate.

Watch the Event Here

VIRGINIA
Friday, October 16, 2020: Protect Our Care’s nationwide virtual “Your Health, Your Vote” tour arrived in Virginia to highlight Republicans’ ongoing war on health care and failed coronavirus response. Headlined by U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07), U.S. House candidate Dr. Cameron Webb (D-VA-05) and Marked by COVID founder Kristin Urquiza, the event highlighted Trump’s selection of an anti-ACA justice for the Supreme Court and his lawsuit to completely dismantle the Affordable Care Act during a pandemic, which would have devastating impacts on Virginians’ care. They also discussed Democrats’ agenda to improve health care and lower costs for Americans.

Watch the Event Here

MONTANA
Friday, October 16, 2020: Protect Our Care’s nationwide virtual tour arrived in Montana, headlined by Senator Jon Tester and Governor Steve Bullock, to discuss the importance of the Affordable Care Act to Montanans and to highlight what’s at stake for Montanans’ health care if the ACA is repealed. They also discussed the significance of access to affordable healthcare particularly in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Community members, including Dr. Anne Giuliano and Rep. Sharon Stewart Peregoy, carried messages from communities directly impacted by the ACA and Medicaid expansion, highlighting the importance of access to preventative and consistent care. Speakers included Amy Allen of the Forward Montana Foundation, Elizabeth Marum, a member of Big Sky 55+, and Emily Allison of Forward Montana and Bridgercare. 

Watch the Event Here

Protect Our Care on Nationwide Virtual Bus Tour Focuses on What’s at Stake for Virginians’ Health Care in November

Watch the Event Here 

VIRGINIA – Today, Protect Our Care’s nationwide virtual “Your Health, Your Vote” tour arrived in Virginia to highlight Republicans’ ongoing war on health care and failed coronavirus response. Headlined by U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07), U.S. House candidate Dr. Cameron Webb (D-VA-05) and Marked by COVID founder Kristin Urquiza, the event highlighted Trump’s selection of an anti-ACA justice for the Supreme Court and his lawsuit to completely dismantle the Affordable Care Act during a pandemic, which would have devastating impacts on Virginians’ care. They also discussed Democrats’ agenda to improve health care and lower costs for Americans.

“Right now, in the middle of a pandemic, Trump is still fighting to dismantle the ACA in a case that the Supreme Court will hear one week after the election. Repealing the Affordable Care Act means eliminating protections for people with pre-existing conditions, including the millions of Americans who have been diagnosed with Covid-19. We have a lot of room to build on the ACA while protecting the American people. The stakes could not be higher, and improving upon the law, not throwing it out, should be our path forward,” said U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA).

“COVID-19 has created massive amounts of uncertainty for thousands of Virginians, including those who have lost their job and their employer-sponsored insurance. The administration’s continued sabotage of our healthcare system is the very last thing they need,” said U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07). “In Congress, I’m committed to protecting those with pre-existing conditions, defending our healthcare system, and lowering healthcare and drug costs for working families. Senator Warner and Dr. Webb understand that these are critical priorities at this moment, and I’d like to thank Protect Our Care for keeping up the fight on behalf of families and seniors in Virginia and across the country.”

“This pandemic has been a poignant reminder of how essential it is for everyone in our communities to have access to quality and affordable healthcare. Advocates like Protect Our Care have been critical voices in the fight to defend the Affordable Care Act and the progress that we’ve made, and I was thrilled to join them today to discuss the importance of this election for protecting and expanding access to care,” said U.S. House candidate Dr. Cameron Webb (D-VA-05).

“This is leadership failure, and this is policy failure. It has led us to losing 218,000 Americans,” said Marked by COVID founder Kristin Urquiza, who lost her father, Mark, to the virus. “The President of the United States continues to downplay the virus. He’s refusing to listen to experts. He is discouraging Americans from wearing masks, and he does not have a plan. His Republican entourage is completely in lockstep with him, and so that is why it is so critically important that we fire Donald Trump this election cycle.”

“In 2020, health care is on the ballot. We’ve seen failure after failure on health care from President Trump and his Republican enablers in Congress,” said Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach. “Now, they are trying to confirm an anti-ACA Supreme Court nominee to completely dismantle the Affordable Care Act in the middle of the worst public health crisis our country has seen, which would rip health care from more than 20 million Americans and leave 135 million people without protections for their pre-existing conditions. The stakes couldn’t be higher for health care, and voters know they don’t want another four years of Donald Trump’s health care sabotage.” 

Read Virginia’s Voter Guide Here

The Protect Our Care “Your Health, Your Vote” virtual bus tour is making stops in:
Pennsylvania on Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Wisconsin on Thursday, September 17, 2020
Michigan on Tuesday, September 22, 2020
New Hampshire on Thursday, September 24, 2020
Minnesota on Friday, September 25, 2020
Iowa on Thursday, October 1, 2020
Maine on Friday, October 2, 2020
Alaska on Wednesday, October 7, 2020
Arizona on Tuesday, October 6, 2020
Colorado on Monday, October 12, 2020
Nevada on Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Texas on Wednesday, October 14, 2020
Virginia on Friday, October 16, 2020
Montana on Friday, October 16, 2020
North Carolina on Monday, October 19, 2020
Georgia on Tuesday, October 20, 2020
Florida on Thursday, October 22, 2020

*More dates will be added in coming days, including South Carolina and Illinois

At tonight’s NBC town hall, President Trump said “we would like to terminate” the Affordable Care Act and “we have a very good chance of doing it.” For once, President Trump is telling a partial truth. He and his Republican enablers in the Senate are jamming through the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court so they can accomplish through the courts what they couldn’t do legislatively — completely dismantle the Affordable Care Act and its protections for more than 135 million people with pre-existing conditions. One week after the election, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in California v. Texas, the Trump-Republican lawsuit that if successful, would overturn the ACA and throw our entire health care system into chaos.

And that’s where the truth ends. Trump claims they’re in the court to throw out the Affordable Care Act “in order to replace it” but the truth is there is no replacement. The bills Republicans have put forth claiming to protect people with pre-existing conditions aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. 

Report: Why the ACA Is the Gold Standard for Protecting People with Pre-Existing Conditions

Watch the Video Here

During Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s three days before the Senate Judiciary Committee for her Supreme Court confirmation hearings, Senate Democrats exposed exactly why President Trump and Republicans are rushing to install her on the court — to accomplish what they couldn’t do through legislation and completely overturn the Affordable Care Act. One week after the election, the court will hear oral arguments in California v. Texas, the Trump-Republican lawsuit to dismantle the ACA. If successful, the lawsuit would throw our entire health care system into chaos by ripping away health care from more than 20 million Americans and ending protections for more than 135 million people with pre-existing conditions, all in the middle of an ever-worsening pandemic. Despite their claims to the contrary, Trump and Senate Republicans have no plan if the ACA and its critical protections are overturned.

Judge Coney Barrett dodged question after question from Democratic Judiciary Committee members about her history of hostile statements about the health care law. Senate Democrats continued to raise alarms about the consequences of dismantling the ACA during a pandemic, lifted up stories of Americans who depend on the law and explained to Americans that Trump and Republicans are rushing to confirm anti-ACA Judge Amy Coney Barrett in hopes she will help them accomplish their decade-long goal of eliminating the law.

U.S. Reps. Allred, Fletcher and Health Care Storyteller Join Protect Our Care on Nationwide Virtual Bus Tour to Highlight What’s At Stake for Texans’ Health Care in November

Watch the Event Here

Texas – Today, Protect Our Care’s nationwide virtual “Your Health, Your Vote” tour arrived in Texas to highlight Republicans’ ongoing war on health care and failed coronavirus response. Headlined by U.S. Representatives Collin Allred (D-TX-32) and Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX-07), the event highlighted how Trump’s ongoing war on America’s health care, his lawsuit to completely dismantle the Affordable Care Act during a pandemic, and his failed coronavirus response have had devastating impacts on Texans. They also held Sen. John Cornyn for his failure as part of the Republican Senate leadership to failure Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to negotiate or pass a meaningful coronavirus relief package for Americans who are suffering from the impacts of the pandemic. The House, including Reps. Allred and Fletcher, passed a relief bill 152 days ago, with no meaningful response from the Senate.

“Health care is on the ballot in this election, so I encourage every North Texan to vote for your health care. Vote for your family’s health care. Vote for leaders that will put your health care first. That’s what’s at stake in this election. I have worked since day one in Congress to stop the attacks on your health care, and will keep working to expand access to care and lower costs across the board,” said U.S. Representative Collin Allred (D-TX-32).

“Our state has the highest rate of uninsured people in the country, but even during this pandemic, Texas Republicans and the Trump administration are intent on repealing the Affordable Care Act, and repealing vital health coverage for millions across our state and country,” said U.S. Representative Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX-07). “For Texans, there is no more critical issue on the ballot this year than protecting our health care. I have been proud to work with my colleagues in the House of Representatives to protect and build upon the ACA, fighting to protect coverage for people with pre-existing conditions and expand access to affordable and quality health care at a time when our communities need it the most.”

“We need to make sure we hold our leaders accountable. 200,000 Americans did not have to die,” said Chris Garcia, a San Antonio resident who lost his father, Carlos, to coronavirus in July. “This would have been the time to bring the country together for the common cause of prevention, but instead the virus was politicized. He peddled false statements, and we still have no national plans for testing or regarding PPE.”

“Health care is on the ballot in 2020. From President Trump and Republicans’ complete abdication of responsibility on passing coronavirus relief to their constant attacks on Americans’ health care, voters know what’s at stake when they cast their vote in this election,” said Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach. “Now Senate Republicans are trying to rush through his anti-ACA Supreme Court nominee to finally accomplish what they haven’t been able to do legislatively — completely dismantle the ACA. Voters will hold Republicans accountable for their war on health care.” 

Read Protect Our Care’s Texas Voter Guide Here

The Protect Our Care “Your Health, Your Vote” virtual bus tour is making stops in: 

Pennsylvania on Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Wisconsin on Thursday, September 17, 2020
Michigan on Tuesday, September 22, 2020
New Hampshire on Thursday, September 24, 2020
Minnesota on Friday, September 25, 2020
Iowa on Thursday, October 1, 2020
Maine on Friday, October 2, 2020
Alaska on Wednesday, October 7, 2020
Arizona on Tuesday, October 6, 2020
Colorado on Monday, October 12, 2020
Nevada on Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Texas on Wednesday, October 14, 2020
Virginia on Friday, October 16, 2020
Montana on Friday, October 16, 2020
North Carolina on Monday, October 19, 2020
Georgia on Tuesday, October 20, 2020
Florida on Thursday, October 22, 2020
*More dates will be added in coming days, including South Carolina and Illinois

President Trump has made clear that the litmus test for picking a Supreme Court nominee is the future justice’s intent to invalidate the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Amy Coney Barrett passes this test with flying colors, having criticized both major rulings that upheld the ACA. On Sunday, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to his lawsuit to overturn the health care law  — which would rip coverage away from more than 20 million Americans and eliminate protections for 135 million people with pre-existing conditions in the middle of a global pandemic — and his confidence in a victory if Barrett is seated. And that’s not even the first time he has said opposition to the ACA is nonnegotiable when selecting his judicial appointments.

Trump Has Repeatedly Promised to Appoint Judges Who Will Overturn the ACA 

As far back as 2015, Donald Trump promised that “my judicial appointments will do the right thing unlike Bush’s appointee John Roberts on ObamaCare.”  The Republican party platform for 2016 and 2020 clearly states that GOP-appointed judges will “reverse the long line of activist decisions – including Roe, Obergefell, and the Obamacare cases” and while running for president in 2016, Trump assailed Roberts’ rulings calling him a “nightmare for Conservatives” who “gave us Obamacare, almost as much as Obama himself.” 

Trump continues to stand by his promise to “terminate health care under Obamacare” by pursuing a lawsuit that could overturn the entire law to the Supreme Court. Trump has also said that he is “looking to appoint judges very much in the mold of Justice Scalia.” The late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia opposed the ACA repeatedly, famously dubbing the law “SCOTUSCare.” 

Within hours of nominating Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, Trump tweeted again about his hopes of overturning the ACA, saying “Obamacare will be replaced with a MUCH better, and FAR cheaper, alternative if it is terminated in the Supreme Court. Would be a big WIN for the USA!” The next day, Trump called Obamacare “terrible” and doubled-down on his goal of overturning the law: “‘If we can end Obamacare and come up with a much better health-care system that’s much cheaper and much better, which is what we’ll do.” 

Two Republican Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee Are Openly Rooting for Judge Barrett to Overturn the ACA

Senator Mike Lee told George Stephanopolus on ABC’s “This Week” that he hoped Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination would lead to the court declaring the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional.  “I believe the Affordable Care Act was unconstitutional when it was enacted. It was unconstitutional when it was litigated in 2012. The fact that Congress chose to enact an unconstitutional law shouldn’t tarnish Judge Barrett in this. Her job is to figure out whether it’s unconstitutional or not,” Lee said. 

Senator Ted Cruz Cruz claimed that it would not be a problem for Amy Coney Barrett and the Supreme Court to strike down the Affordable Care Act, because Republicans would immediately act to protect pre-existing conditions. “Every Republican agrees we’re going to protect preexisting conditions,” Cruz said, while criticizing Democrats for trying to make Barrett’s nomination into a referendum on health care. “What they’re talking about is what they think politically resonates, but 100 out of 100 senators agree we’re going to protect preexisting conditions regardless of what happens with Obamacare.”

Washington, DC — During day two of Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court confirmation hearings, the nominee and Republican Judiciary Committee members continued to dodge accountability when it comes to Americans’ health care. Republicans on the committee used their remarks to bash the Affordable Care Act, and Trump’s anti-ACA nominee, Judge Coney Barrett, did her best to obscure her views from the public when faced with questions from Democratic Judiciary Committee members about her history of hostile statements about the health care law. Democrats continued to raise alarms about the consequences of dismantling the ACA during a pandemic and lifted up stories of Americans who depend on the law. Judge Coney Barrett is being rushed onto the court to be the deciding vote to strike down the ACA in Trump’s lawsuit, which the Supreme Court will hear one week after the election. In response, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement:

“Today’s hearing made clear what we’ve known all along. Republicans will stop at nothing to confirm President Trump’s anti-ACA nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, to the nation’s highest court while voters are already casting their ballots. They know this is their last chance to accomplish what they haven’t been able to do legislatively — completely overturn the Affordable Care Act. Republicans don’t care that this is an illegitimate process. They don’t care that more than 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions would lose the protections they rely on. They don’t care that striking down the ACA would throw our entire health care system into chaos during a pandemic, and they don’t care that they have no health care plan to replace it. They only care about installing Judge Coney Barrett on the Supreme Court to rip away Americans’ health care. Democrats on the committee made clear what the consequences of striking down the law would be for the American people, and Republicans must know the consequences they will soon face at the polls for their relentless war on American health care.”

Protect Our Care Has Held Events in Colorado, Florida, South Carolina, Iowa, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania; Set to Hold More Events in Iowa and Maine

Beginning last week, Protect Our Care began holding nationwide events across the country highlighting the growing threat to Americans’ health care as Senate Republicans rush to fill the Supreme Court vacancy with anti-ACA Judge Amy Coney Barrett and as the ever-worsening COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread. California v. Texas, the Trump-Republican lawsuit to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, will be heard one week after the election. If successful, the lawsuit would take away protections for 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions and rip coverage away from over 20 million Americans in the middle of the worst public health crisis in a century.

Events From the Week So Far: 

COLORADO
Friday, October 9 — Affordable Care Act and Women’s Health Event with Sen. Michael Bennet
On Friday, U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and health care advocates joined Protect Our Care Colorado at a virtual press conference to discuss what is at stake for Americans’ health care if the Affordable Care Act is overturned. Panelists condemned Senate Republicans’ ongoing attack on  health care and their rush to confirm a new Justice comes just weeks before the Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in Republicans’ lawsuit to eliminate the Affordable Care Act on November 10. Participants focused on how Trump’s ACA-repeal lawsuit would devastate Coloradans and roll back critical protections for women, Latinxs, and LGBTQ+ individuals who have suffered disproportionate economic impacts during the COVID-19 pandemic and seen greater job loss overall – likely resulting in loss of health care coverage. You can watch the event here.

FLORIDA
Friday, October 9 — With Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings Looming, Local Leaders and Health Care Advocates to Stress What’s at Stake for Healthcare in South Florida in this Election
With only a few days before the Senate begins confirmation hearings for Donald Trump’s hand-picked ACA-opposed Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, local leaders and healthcare advocates in Miami will stress the stakes of this election for the healthcare of hundreds of thousands of South Floridians who are at risk of losing their healthcare, should the ACA be overturned in November. Florida City Mayor Otis Wallace will join former Republican legislator and legal expert Juan-Carlos Planas, along with several healthcare advocates, including Miami resident Judith Casale, and Kendall resident and recent guest of honor at last year’s State of the Union address, Michelle Garcia, who will all discuss what life could look like for hundreds of thousands of Floridians in South Florida should the Supreme Court overturn the ACA in November. Watch the event here.

• Actualidad Radio 1020 AM: Clip of Juan-Carlos Planas Discussing SCOTUS nomination 

SOUTH CAROLINA
Friday, October 9 — SCOTUS Accountability Event with State Representatives and SC Storytellers
Representatives Marvin Pedarvis and JA Moore joined Mary McBride, a South Carolinian health care advocate, and Protect Our Care South Carolina on a virtual roundtable to highlight the growing threat to health care coverage as Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham and Republicans rush to fill the Supreme Court vacancy as COVID-19 continues to spread among senior GOP officials. “We can’t play politics with people’s lives. That’s what got us into this mess with COVID and that’s what Lindsey Graham is trying to do with this nomination,” said Rep. Marvin Pendarvis. You can watch a recording of the event here.

IOWA
Monday, October 12 — Iowans Launch ‘Our Lives On The Line’ Week of Action to Oppose Rush to Confirm a New Supreme Court Justice
Iowan health care advocates from Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa, Iowa Citizen Action Network, and One Iowa Action joined Protect Our Care Iowa for an event about what’s at stake for Iowa families and their health care as Senate Republicans, including Senators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley, rush to fill the Supreme Court vacancy before the election. The statewide press event kicks off the ‘Our Lives on the Line’ week of action sponsored by a number of grassroots and community organizations. Watch the event here.

NORTH CAROLINA
Monday, October 12 — Supreme Court Press Call with Chairman Wayne Goodwin, State Senator Terry Van Duyn, and Stacy Staggs
North Carolina Democratic party Chairman Wayne Goodwin, State Senator Terry Van Duyn, and Stacy Staggs, a health care advocate, joined Protect Our Care North Carolina on a press call to highlight the growing threat to health care coverage as Republican’s rush to fill the Supreme Court vacancy. On November 10, one week after the election, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in California v. Texas, the lawsuit led by the Trump administration and 18 Republican a state Attorneys General to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. You can listen to the call here.

WISCONSIN
Monday, October 12 — Supreme Court Press Call with Attorney General Josh Kaul and Health Care Advocates
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, cancer survivor Renee Gasch, and emergency room physician Chris Kapsner joined Protect Our Care Wisconsin to highlight the growing threat to health care coverage as Republican’s rush to fill the Supreme Court vacancy. On November 10, one week after the election, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in California v. Texas, the lawsuit led by the Trump administration and 18 Republican state Attorneys General to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. You can watch the event here.

• WKOW: Wisconsin Politicians Still Divided as Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings Begin

PENNSYLVANIA
Tuesday, October 13 — SCOTUS Accountability Event with the Pennsylvania Democratic Party and Protect Our Care Storytellers
Earlier today, the Pennsylvania Democratic Party and Biden For President Pennsylvania kicked off their joint “Health Care is on the Ballot Tour” with U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chair Nancy Patton Mills, Johnstown native and breast cancer survivor Amy Raslevich, and Little Lobbyists National Director of Advocacy Erin Gabriel to discuss what’s at stake for the health care of Pennsylvania families in the upcoming election. A recording of the virtual press conference can be found here, and an audio clip is available here.