Jewish Groups Decry House Approval Of GOP Healthcare Bill

(JTA) — Jewish groups criticized the passage of a health care bill by the House of Representatives to repeal and replace major parts of the Affordable Care Act.

The bill passed Thursday in a 217-213 vote almost entirely along party lines. The measure would nix tax penalties for those without health insurance and decrease state programs to insure low-income Americans.

Among those that criticized the passage were the Reform movement, the Jewish Federations of North America, B’nai B’rith International, the National Jewish Democratic Council and Jewish Women International.

“This reverses the tremendous progress that has been made in recent years to increase the number of Americans with health insurance,” Rabbi Jonah Pesner, director of the Reform movement’s Religious Action Center, said in a statement. “We urgently call on the Senate to reject this profoundly harmful legislation.”

“We strongly urge the Senate to reject the House plan, which would have a negative consequence for many communities, including low-income seniors,” B’nai B’rith said in a statement.

Jewish Women International called it “a careless, undisciplined effort by the president to make everyone think he is fulfilling a campaign pledge and it will wreak havoc on our nation, including the very people who supported him.”

The Republican Jewish Coalition, in contrast, praised the bill. “As the legislation moves to the Senate, we hope for swift passage so President Trump can sign it and fulfill his commitment to the American people for affordable health care,” executive director Matthew Brooks said in a statement.