Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Our spring member drive has ended, but it's not too late to give. You have the power to help fund the essential journalism that keeps us all informed. Help us close the gap on our spring fundraising goal! GIVE NOW

Hundreds Of People Rally At Capitol To Show Support For Obamacare

Wikimedia Commons

Hundreds of people rallied at Utah’s state capitol over the weekend to show their support for President Barack Obama’s signature health care law. The rally was one of several around the country.

“Our specific focus for this event was to send a message to our congressional delegation that it’s irresponsible and dangerous to repeal the existing Affordable Care Act without first proposing, implementing an adequate replacement plan," said Stacy Stanford, the organizer of the rally.

In 2010 Stanford lost her job and her healthcare coverage after a car accident. The Affordable Care Act was the only proposal that gave her eligibility for healthcare.

“It was important to me to make sure it wasn’t just a stand-around-and-shout-into-the-void rally. We gave actionable steps that the people there could take," she said. "I had a list of phone numbers for our local congressional representatives and senators. And the crowd that was there lined up in front of those signs to take pictures and write down phone numbers. Hopefully that means they weren’t just there to hold signs and they’re going to go home and take action.”

The law delivered health coverage to around 20 million people nationwide but is saddled with problems such as rapidly rising premiums and large co-payments. President-elect Donald Trump has promised to repeal and replace the law.

“This isn’t just partisan rhetoric or hyperbole," Stanford said. "These are lives at stake. There are Republican lives at stake. These are Democratic lives at stake. This isn’t a partisan issue. Sickness and disability doesn’t discriminate.”