AHCA protest:

Protesters demand senator specify his position on bill

Protesters march into U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake’s Phoenix office chanting, “Call him! Call him! Call him!” as they demand Flake specify his position on the Senate version of the Republicans’ American Health Care Act legislation.

A group of protesters marched into U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake’s Phoenix office Friday morning and started shouting at staff members, demanding they call Flake and have him specify his position on the American Health Care Act.

“Call him! Call him! Call him!” the protesters chanted. Flake was not in the office and the staff didn’t end up calling him. However, the senator issued a brief statement later in response to the demonstration.

“I’d like to thank those constituents who came out to share their concerns and I’m pleased everyone who wanted to had the opportunity to speak with my staff,” Flake said.

More than half the protesters were escorted out of the building by two security guards about 15 minutes into the protest. They remained protesting outside near the East Camelback Road office, holding up anti-AHCA signs and waving at drivers passing by.

Anna Keating, 61, who called herself a Republican, was one of few people who remained inside of the office.

She said the group was telling the staff their personal stories of how the Affordable Care Act, passed under then-President Barack Obama, has helped save their lives and about the potential aftermath if the AHCA becomes law. They said millions of people who rely on Medicaid benefits would lose health insurance.

She and her fellow protesters don’t want politicians in Washington to completely scrap the ACA, but want them to

make some amendments to bring down the premium costs under the current law, she said.

Shortly after the protesters marched into the office, five Phoenix police officers were dispatched to the site, but no protesters were arrested.

A Flake staff member at the Phoenix office referred questions to the Washington, D.C., office.

The U.S. Senate could take a vote on the AHCA as early as next week.