National Nurses Urge Rejection of Final Tax Deal Bill Gift to Biggest Corporations and Super Rich Also Poses Threat to Health

National Nurses United (NNU) is urging Congress members to reject the revised tax overhaul bill when, as expected, it comes to a vote this week, warning it would drastically increase economic inequality and endanger healthcare for millions of Americans.

In a letter to members of Congress, NNU Co-Presidents Deborah Burger, RN and Jean Ross, RN said the bill, whose "benefits" accrue only to the largest corporations and the super rich, would also pose a serious threat to the health of millions of Americans.

"In slashing taxes for the rich, the bill will drastically increase the deficit - which will undoubtedly be used by some in Congress to justify a continued attack on Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and other necessary social programs," they wrote.

House Speaker Paul Ryan has already declared his intent to follow up approval of the tax bill with an all out effort to make big cuts in Medicare. In addition, prior federal legislation would mandate cuts in Medicare under the deficit expected as a result of the tax bill.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, by eliminating the tax penalty, set by the Affordable Care Act, on people who don't buy private insurance, up to 13 million people will choose not to buy the over priced private insurance plans.

"These newly uninsured will be added to the currently 28 million people in this country without health insurance, and the tens of millions more who have insurance but whose deductibles and copayments are so high they cannot afford to use."

Additionally, analysts have projected that private insurers will use the loss of the mandate as a pretext to impose new double digit premium increases which will further discourage people from getting the care they need.

Further, Burger and Ross said, the bill "would continue to increase economic inequality across the United States. It would permanently slash taxes for the richest individuals and large corporations, while any reductions in taxes for working class Americans would expire within a few years. Under this bill, working class and poor Americans would quickly pay more taxes while the wealthiest Americans pay far less."

"The GOP tax plan will increase income inequality in the United States, and prevent tens of millions of patients from getting the quality, therapeutic care they need, when they need it.

On behalf of registered nurses across this country, we implore you to vote against this bill," Burger and Ross said.