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Sen. Warren Rips Anthem for Sending 'Bigger Tax Cuts or Else' Ransom Note

"Anthem sent Congress a ransom note" demanding more taxpayer subsidies following the GOP's failed attempt to strip healthcare from millions of Americans--an attempt Anthem endorsed. (Photo: Senate Democrats/Flickr/cc)

Sen. Warren Rips Anthem for Sending 'Bigger Tax Cuts or Else' Ransom Note

Warren said the insurance giant has no right to demand massive taxpayer giveaways after making nearly $900 million in profits in the second quarter of this year

During a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing Thursday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) slammed the insurance giant Anthem for threatening to pull out of state Obamacare exchanges if they're aren't lavished with "bigger tax cuts and more giveaways."

"If you're curious about why a majority of Americans support Medicare for All, here's exhibit A."
--Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Warren highlighted the fact that Anthem pulled in $855 million in profits during the second quarter of 2017, more than half of which came from taxpayer-funded insurance programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

Despite their enormous profits, Warren said, "Anthem sent Congress a ransom note" demanding more taxpayer subsidies following the GOP's failed attempt to strip healthcare from millions of Americans--an attempt Anthem endorsed.

"If you're curious about why a majority of Americans support Medicare for All, here's exhibit A," Warren concluded.

In a Facebook post following the hearing, Warren wrote that if Anthem wants to "keep making huge profits from taxpayer money, they ought to be able to provide decent coverage through the [Affordable Care Act]."

Watch a video of Warren's exchange with Anthem executive Robert Ruiz-Moss:

An Unconstitutional Rampage


Trump and Musk are on an unconstitutional rampage, aiming for virtually every corner of the federal government. These two right-wing billionaires are targeting nurses, scientists, teachers, daycare providers, judges, veterans, air traffic controllers, and nuclear safety inspectors. No one is safe. The food stamps program, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are next.

It’s an unprecedented disaster and a five-alarm fire, but there will be a reckoning. The people did not vote for this. The American people do not want this dystopian hellscape that hides behind claims of “efficiency.” Still, in reality, it is all a giveaway to corporate interests and the libertarian dreams of far-right oligarchs like Musk.

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