After the Republicans passed the Affordable Health Care Act in the House they gleefully loaded buses and headed to the White House for a pep rally with President Trump. Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III said he didn’t see anything to be happy about. As of May 9, the bill has not been scored by the Congressional Budget Office.

He released a statement on May 4 charging that the bill would “leave millions of Americans without coverage.”

Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker said that Trumpcare could put millions of Americans healthcare in jeopardy. (Courtesy photo)

“The very nature of how this bill made it to floor for today’s vote by the U.S. House of Representatives is counter to what the American people want, deserve, and frankly, expect,” he said. Baker said “24 million Americans’ health care is now in jeopardy as a result of today’s vote.”

“Over the last three years, Prince George’s County has worked diligently to reduce the number of uninsured County residents by 50 percent by enrolling individuals and families in health insurance plans made possible by the Affordable Care Act,” Baker continued.

Maryland Rep. Anthony Brown (D) told the Sentinel that an estimated 326,000 people with pre-existing conditions would lose health coverage.

“I’m now 49 and have spent the past 16 years of my life in and out of hospitals with my health deteriorating and my medical expenses are exorbitant,” Rev. Unnia Pettus, founder of Nobody But God Ministries, who preaches at several churches throughout the county, told the AFRO through email on May 8. She was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2001. “It’s a living nightmare and Obamacare at least helped remove the bias for people like myself with pre-existing health conditions and chronic health. I shouldn’t be punished for getting cancer.”

Lawmakers in Upper Marlboro, Md., faith leaders and residents across Prince George’s County are worried about their plight even though the Republican bill has not passed the Senate. “I feel like the Republicans are trying to repeal anything (Barack Obama) has done for people who need help,” said a federal contractor who was reluctant to give her name. “I had to sign up for the Affordable Care Act because I can’t afford health care.”