Costello is studying and listening about the AHCA

Calls his vote to repeal Obamacare ‘right first step’

Maybe, just a little bit, Congressman Ryan Costello, R-6, who voted in committee to push forward the American Health Care Act, and in turn, repeal portions of the Affordable Care Act, is hedging on his future vote.

“It was the right framework to rein in the health care costs – the right first step,” Costello said about his committee vote.

The Congressional Budget Office recently released a report suggesting that 24 million Americans might lose health care coverage over the next 10 years, Medicaid might be gutted and the GOP plan rolled out by House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., would amunt to a hefty tax cut for the wealthy while steeply increasing costs for senior citizens.

“I’m still looking closely at the CBO score – there’s a lot to it,” said Costello. “There’s still a lot of analysis and review that I’m taking.”

The two-term congressman said he has concerns about cutting health care.

“I’m looking to learn more about them and find some remedies.”

Lawmakers have considered changing an everchanging deadline to cut the ACA from 2020 to 2018.

“I oppose moving up the expansion deadline,” Costello said.

So where do we go from here?

“We need to do more in the way of tax credits for low income seniors, in particular,” said the former Chester County Commissioner. “We need to provide private healthcare options that provide more choice and options.”

Costello was asked to predict how the healthcare issue might be resolved.

“The next day or two will provide a lot of clarity,” he said.

For the eighth consecutive week, activists are schedule to rally Friday outside Costello’s West Chester office at the historic courthouse in West Chester.

U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello