To the Editor:

“The congresswoman has not come to a decision on how she will vote; she is still soliciting input from her constituents.”

Staffers for Rep. Elise Stefanik fed constituents this line during the full week between the solidification of the text of the AHCA and its eventual passage. Of course, it is a line that conveys openness, moderation, even empathy.

Nothing could have been further from the truth: Stefanik was a member of the whip team, hardcore believers tasked with convincing actual moderates to disregard the medical- and financial well-being of their constituents and, instead, pass the AHCA, which--if made law--will result in the loss of insurance coverage for millions of Americans, degradation of Medicaid funding and coverage limbo for the 30% of Americans with pre-existing conditions.

Massive state tax increases are also likely, as states try to make up for the buck-passing of the AHCA. All of this in order to finance a tax break that will disproportionately favor the wealthy.

When confronted with Rep. Stefanik’s inconsistency, her D.C. staffer made the insultingly preposterous claim that one can be on the whip team and still be undecided. But then, Stefanik is used to hoodwinking her constituents. Witness her earlier promises--relayed through staffers--to reject any plan that block-grants Medicaid (AHCA does) and to protect essential benefits like the pre-existing condition exemption (under the AHCA, states may opt out, with flimsy assurances of addressing coverage shortfalls).

Put simply, the AHCA is an abdication of any obligation we have toward our fellow man. It is immoral, and Rep. Stefanik can sign on for a great part of the blame for the preventable deaths and personal bankruptcies that its passage will entail.

Too bad she felt the need to mislead her constituents as she pushed for this travesty.

Ben Landry

Canton