MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., will visit West Virginia for the second time in a month regarding the Senate health care bill.
The rally will take place Sunday at the Morgantown Event Center.
According to Sanders’ campaign website, he will note the “devastating consequences” of the proposal in West Virginia, and ask Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to drop the bill.
The Congressional Budget Office report said in a June 26 report the number of people uninsured would increase by 22 million in 2026 under the Senate plan compared to if former President Barack Obama’s health care law remained in place. In addition, $772 billion would be cut from Medicaid.
The CBO said on May 24 the health care bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives would result in 23 million individuals losing coverage compared to the current health care system.
Sanders took part in a June 25 event in Charleston urging Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., to vote against the legislation.
Capito came out against the proposal two days after the event and a day following the CBO’s report on the legislation.
She said Wednesday on MetroNews “Talkline” her vote could change if people receiving insurance coverage under Medicaid expansion are protected.
The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources tweeted Monday 166,985 people are enrolled in the state’s expansion.
The Sunday rally is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. It is free and open to the public, though the campaign has requested those interested in attending to make reservations.