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Durbin On American Health Care Act: 'I'm Now A Pre-existing Condition'

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin speaks with reporters outside his home in Springfield, Illinois on Sunday, May 7, 2017.
Brian Mackey
/
NPR Illinois
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin speaks with reporters outside his home in Springfield, Illinois on Sunday, May 7, 2017.

Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is putting his heart into attacking the Republican health care bill — literally.

Durbin is citing his own recent cardiac procedure to point out what he and other Democrats say are flaws in the legislation.

Brian Mackey reports on how U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says his recent heart procedure relates to the American Health Care Act.

Last week, Durbin had an outpatient heart procedure in Chicago. He was dealing with an “atrial flutter.”

Speaking with reporters Sunday outside his Springfield residence, Durbin says he “feel(s) recovered” and is returning to Washington Monday. There he plans to urge his Senate colleagues to reject the health care bill passed last week in the House.

"I’ve now become one of the statistics I’ve talked about for a long time — I believe I’m now a pre-existing condition,” Durbin says.

The Republican plan could allow insurance companies — in some states, in some circumstances — to charge more for pre-existing conditions.

This has become a line of attack for Democrats across the country, as they seek to protect Obamacare, or at least make Republicans pay a political price for trying to dismantle it.

Copyright 2017 NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS

Brian Mackey formerly reported on state government and politics for NPR Illinois and a dozen other public radio stations across the state. Before that, he was A&E editor at The State Journal-Register and Statehouse bureau chief for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.
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