Congressman MacArthur

Congressman Tom MacArthur (RNJ3) wants us to believe he’s protecting our interests in the negotiations for Obamacare replacement, but he’s really giving away our healthcare while making himself look like a hero.

After negotiations on the second round of amendments broke down last month, MacArthur claimed he got commitments for “additional funding for older and low-income Americans and the disabled.” This was in the areas of Medicaid funding and tax credit support for those aged 50 to 64. For Medicaid funding, earlier in the year he said that he’d discussed the state of Medicaid with Governor Christie and agreed that any changes would be “devastating.” But that’s exactly what the Republican bill does—cuts Medicaid to unacceptable levels. Had MacArthur negotiated a deal whereby funding for New Jersey would be untouched, he’d have told us about it. Instead, he just throws numbers around—and they get bigger (like Pinocchio’s nose) with each re-telling—$60 billion on March 24, $65 billion later on the same day, and $75 billion on March 28.

As to tax credit supports, the Republican plan allows insurers to charge those aged 50 to 64 five times what they charge 20 year-olds, but give tax credits on only a 3 to 1 basis. MacArthur got an increase, but was it to 5 to 1? Nope, otherwise he’d be shouting it from the rooftops. He won a small concession, but not enough to make up the gap. But he keeps congratulating himself.

It’s time he start working for his constituents and his state to fix Obamacare and not destroy it. — Kevin Kennedy, Waretown NJ