FL Members of Congress, FDP Chair Slam Trump for Broken Promises Ahead of State of the Union Address

Ahead of Trump’s third, and potentially final, State of the Union (SOTU) Address, Florida’s Democratic Congressional leaders and Florida Democratic Party Chair slammed Trump for his broken promises to Floridians on a news call today.

Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Donna Shalala, Darren Soto, and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, and Chair Terrie Rizzo specifically called out Trump’s mission to undermine the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and his failure to protect people with pre-existing conditions. Trump’s actions are a threat to health care in Florida: nearly 1.8 million Floridians signed up for Affordable Care Act plans last year, the most in the nation. 28% of non-elderly adults in Florida have a pre-existing condition that could cost them affordable health care without the ACA.

Highlights from the news call

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz

“Today on the morning of the State of the Union Address we have an important opportunity to shine a white hot spotlight on President Trump’s many broken promises. And there’s certainly no broken promise more abhorrent than his failure to act on those skyrocketing drug costs while simultaneously attacking the Affordable Care Act.”

[…] “With a single tweet, Trump could fast-track the Lower Drug Costs Now Act and sign it by the end of this week. Yet in the two months since the House passed this landmark bill, Trump hasn’t shown any interest in signing this bill that would deliver on his promise to reduce health care costs. And no one is surprised because this is just the latest broken promise from a President who has done nothing but attack the health care of millions who desperately need it.”

Rep. Donna Shalala

“My district has the largest enrollment in the Affordable Care Act of any Congressional district in the country. Those 100,000 people that get their health care –very good, comprehensive healthcare– through the Affordable Care Act are at risk. He’s reckless on health care, he’s reckless on the economy, and he’s reckless on immigration. We have to make sure this is his last State of the Union.”

Rep. Darren Soto

“President Trump has led one of the most untruthful, corrupt administrations in our country. He has divided our nation and he has continued to break his promises to the Sunshine State — and I expect to hear more of the same tonight.

Florida has the largest federal health care exchange. Nearly 2 million Floridians get their health care through Obamacare, yet Trump is still suing to try to eliminate Obamacare and eliminate protections for people with pre-existing conditions.

[…] “In central Florida we have some of the lowest wages in the nation, yet Trump continues to stand in the way of a $15 minimum wage per hour and continue to attack and undermine unions ”

Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell

“At last year’s State of the Union Address, President Trump claimed that he would make protecting people with pre-existing conditions a priority for his administration. But what we’re seeing is that he continues to attack the ACA.”

[…] “I have the second largest number of people that depend on getting their health care through the ACA — close to 100,000 families. We cannot be attacking the most vulnerable populations.”

FDP Chair Terrie Rizzo

“When it comes to health care, he isn’t just breaking his promises to Floridians — he is putting our friends, our neighbors at risk. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimated that more than 3.5 million Floridians have a health condition that could lead them to be denied health insurance or charged higher premiums without the ACA’s protections.”

[…] “So, when Trump delivers his State of the Union tonight do not be fooled by his empty promises and braggadocious claims — we know that his Presidency has failed the people of Florida.”