Dear John,
West Virginia has had its first death from coronavirus. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of our families who are hurting and worried, and to our 1.8 million citizens who are hunkered down and hoping for good health. COVID-19 is a killer disease that gains strength from indifference and poor leadership just as much as it does from crowds and coughing.
One of the sharpest tools working in our favor against the pandemic---particularly for vulnerable seniors and children---is access to quality healthcare, hospitals, and clinics here in West Virginia.
Without Medicaid expansion and its associated programs, the number of uninsured would go up in our state by 176% - meaning potential COVID carriers would be less likely to seek medical care due to fear of astronomical bills.
Rural hospitals kept open by Medicaid expansion would likely close, killing over 25,000 state healthcare jobs and shuttering health care facilities we desperately need to combat this crisis.
Not to mention, the hundreds of thousands with pre-existing conditions, like asthma, cancer, and heart disease, whose policies are protected and made affordable by our federal healthcare laws.
Now, imagine West Virginia in this crisis without those laws. It's a pretty scary place. But it’s a very real one that could be in our not-too-distant future thanks to West Virginia’s Attorney General Patrick Morrisey.
Without asking the governor, legislature, or any of us, Morrisey unilaterally sued to repeal the groundbreaking law. Millions could see their healthcare jerked back to give tax breaks to our least needy residents.
It’s callous at best, dangerous at worst. West Virginia, and our nation, cannot afford another four years of the kind of shortsighted, callous, hyperpartisan leadership of Patrick Morrisey.
I can beat Patrick Morrisey and his million-dollar donors by telling people the straight truth about what has been done in their name. But I can’t do it without your financial help. Our critical deadline is tonight at midnight, Tuesday, March 31.
Can you spare $25, $50, $100, or more to help me stop Patrick Morrisey---one of the greatest threats to our healthcare?
