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WEBVTT TODECRY THE NEW BILL AS NO BETTERTHAN THE LAST ONE. AT THE STATEHOUSE, RARETRI-PARTISAN UNITY, INOPPOSITION TO THE GOP HEALTHREFORM BILL PENDING INWASHINGTON.SENATOR SANDERS: THIS IS THEWORST BROUGHT BEFORE THE UNITEDSTATES SENATE.STEWART: SURE, YOU WOULD EXPECTBERNIE SANDERS TO OPPOSE IT, BUTSO DO REPUBLICANS.>> A BUDGET DEFICIT WE COULD NOTABSORB WITHOUT CUTTING HEALTHCARE SERVICES FOR THE PEOPLE WHODESERVED THEM MOST.STEWART: THE BIGGEST CUTS COMEIN MEDICAID, THE HEALTH PROGRAMFOR THE POOR.51,000 VERMONTERS COULD LOSECOVERAGE, 22 MILLION NATIONWIDE,THEY SAID, SENDING MORE TO THEEMERGENCY ROOM AS A LAST RESORT.REILLY JUKUBIAK OF WEST RUTLANDSUFFERS FROM A RARE GENETICDISORDER.ONLY FIVE OTHER AMERICANS HAVEIT.HIS MOM SAYS OUT OF POCKETCO-PAYS ARE HIGH AS IT IS.UNDER THE NEW BILL?>> WE WOULD HAVE A REALLY TOUGHTIME COVERING ALL OF HIS COPAYSAND DEDICTIBLES.>> THE THREAT OF VERMONT, THETHREAT TO EVERY STATE ISCATASTOPHIC.STEWART: CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATSAND NOW MORE AND MOREREPUBLICANS SEE A RISK TOHOSPITALS, EVEN DEALING WITH THEOPIATE ADDICTION.>> CONGRESS MUST TAKE THE TIMETO GET THIS RIGHT AND PASSEDSOMETHING WITH MORE CROSS PARTYAPPEAL.STEWART: IT IS NOTABLE, THEYSAID, THAT NEITHER THE U.S.HOUSE OR THE SENATE HAVE HELD ASINGLE HEARING BEFORE SCHEDULINGA VOTE ON A BILL THAT WOULDIMPACT SO MUCH OF THE NATION.GOVERNOR SCOTT SAID OBAMACARESUFFERED FOR GETTING PUSHED

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Vermont's Republican Gov. Phil Scott, the three members of the congressional delegation and other top state politicians say the health care plan pending in the U.S. Senate would be devastating for the state.Scott was joined Monday at the Statehouse by Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy, independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, Democratic U.S. Rep. Peter Welch and both Democratic and Republican legislative leaders.Scott said while reforms to the current federal health care system are needed and officials might disagree on the best way to make those reforms, the current Senate bill is not the answer."The proposed reductions in Medicaid would leave our state with a deficit we could not absorb without cutting health care services for the people who deserve them most," Scott told a packed Statehouse gathering Monday. "Regardless of what we might have to do, the consequences for Vermonters would be severe."Lawmakers estimated the bill would leave 51,000 Vermonters without health insurance coverage or require a big tax increase "on already overtaxed Vermonters."Sanders called the Republican proposal an "embarrassment" and "immoral and unacceptable" as he repeated his call for a 'Medicare for all' system of universal coverage. Rep. Peter Welch said many rural, community hospitals across the U.S. could be forced to close if the cuts are implemented."We're in an existential fight to keep what we have," Welch said. "If we lose it the threat to Vermont and to every state, to every community hospital, is catastrophic. It is that serious."Even conservative state lawmakers, like Sen. Dustin Degree of Franklin County and Rep. Don Turner, of Milton, urged defeat of the bill as they advocated for health care reform more palatable to the states.