01.20.2017 / Press Release

President Trump: Tweeting is no longer enough

Washington, D.C. – Following is the statement of Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, on the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump:

“With his inauguration, President Trump now has an obligation to move from campaign sloganeering to governing. Mr. Trump has promised that his administration will protect and improve our nation’s health care system. He has also promised that he would lower costs and ‘cover everyone.’ These are noble sentiments, but now they need to be made real by offering specific proposals.

“It is clear that a repeal of the Affordable Care Act, without specific clarity about what will follow, could play havoc with one-sixth of the American economy that is devoted to health care. It would also cause fear among many families who have reason to worry that they will lose their current health care security.

“Additionally, it is now time for Mr. Trump to make clear that he will not harm the more than 72 million low-income people who rely on Medicaid for their lifeline. There has been too much dangerous talk about restructuring the program to a block grant or per capita cap system – changes that would no doubt result in less funding to the states, with the inevitable result that needed coverage would be withdrawn.

“To date, however, we have nothing but the most general, and often ambiguous, promises about how Donald Trump will reshape health care in America. Just tweeting that his plan will protect people is no longer good enough. Now that Mr. Trump is President, he has to offer specific, real solutions.”