Sanders, Dems defend ObamaCare at Michigan rally

After defending Medicare and Medicaid on ABC’s “This Week” Sunday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) appeared at a Michigan rally to continue pushing Democrats’ defense of Obamacare.

During the #OurFirstStand rally with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Michigan Democrats Rep. Debbie Dingell and Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, Sanders said the GOP’s plan to repeal Obamacare would make millions sicker and cause thousands to die. 

Sanders, who has called on President-elect Donald Trump to veto any future cuts to the Medicare and Medicaid, defended the programs and asked Trump to tweet that he would keep his campaign promises not to meddle with either.

{mosads}“I want Trump to send out a tweet saying that he’s going to keep his campaign promises. He’s not going to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid,” Sanders told ABC’s “This Week.”

“Right now, today, all across this country there are going to be rallies led by Democrats and others to fight against the devastating impact of repeal of the Affordable Care Act,” he said later in the afternoon. “Twenty million people thrown off of health insurance, prescription drug prices raising for seniors, privatization of Medicare: devastation. And we’ve got to fight back against that.” 

Democrats have slammed Republicans’ quest to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), arguing they have not proposed an alternative to the healthcare legislation. Republicans have discussed various transition periods that would allow those enrolled in Obamacare to keep their health insurance while a replacement plan is implemented, though Trump has said he does not want to delay. 

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who has said the repeal must be accompanied by a replacement, promised this weekend that a replacement bill for Obamacare is coming. 

“Coming this week: THE Obamacare replacement bill. Done drafting the bill & will be discussing on CNN Sunday AM and all week next week!” Paul wrote on Twitter.

Congress voted last week to approve a budget resolution that would begin the process of repealing the healthcare law.