Sanders to host red state rallies opposing GOP healthcare bill

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) announced plans to host rallies in two red states this weekend as he continues his push against Senate Republicans’ bill to repeal and replace ObamaCare.

Sanders said in a press release Wednesday that he would hold “Care Not Cut” rallies in Kentucky and West Virginia this Sunday. 

In his release, Sanders said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) would hurt his own state with his party’s healthcare plan.{mosads}

{mosads}”McConnell’s legislation, which would throw 22 million Americans off of health insurance, would be a disaster for the country and an even worse disaster for the people of Kentucky,” Sanders said.

“Under the Affordable Care Act, Kentucky has made significant progress in lowering the number of its uninsured people. Further, the expansion of Medicaid there has been of significant help in the fight against the opioid epidemic which has ravaged Kentucky.”

Sanders hosted similar rallies last month for a MoveOn.org bus tour. Those rallies were in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.  

The self-declared democratic socialist has long pushed for more progressive healthcare options and has lately been an outspoken critic of both the House and Senate proposals to repeal and replace ObamaCare.