Protesters unhappy with House Republicans’ plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act descended on Rep. Darrel Issa’s (R-Calif.) district office Tuesday, where they lay on the office’s front lawn and held up signs designed to look like tombstones.
Roughly 300 demonstrators participated in Tuesday’s “die-in” at Issa’s office in Vista, California, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. The protesters urged Issa to oppose the American Health Care Act, which is set to come up for a vote in the House on Thursday.
“We’re just here trying to stand up for the American people and affordable health care,” demonstrator Sandy Dildine told San Diego’s Fox 5. “The Republican plan is gonna make it worse.”
The bill, touted by House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), has drawn criticism from GOP moderates and conservatives. Members of the conservative Freedom Caucus believe the bill does not go far enough to repeal the health care provisions established by Obamacare, while more moderate members have raised concerns over whether the bill will actually reduce costs.
Last week, Issa said he was “not prepared” to support the legislation in its current form.
“I think we can do better in a number of areas of concern,” he told Fox News.
But Issa has warmed to the bill since Ryan proposed changing it to provide more generous tax credits for seniors. After House Republicans met with President Donald Trump on Tuesday, the congressman said he is now leaning toward voting for the bill.
Issa’s office did not immediately return a request for comment on the protest and his position on the health care bill.
In addition to the pro-Obamacare demonstrators, the congressman is also facing pressure from the right to oppose the bill. He’s one of 10 members of Congress targeted by the conservative Club for Growth, which opposes the AHCA. The free-market advocacy group took out a $500,000 ad buy to target Issa and other potential swing-voters, arguing that the bill is not a drastic enough change from Obamacare.
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