WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a video posted on his Facebook page today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) reacted to the release of the Senate’s health care bill, calling it “a really cruel bill” that will have “devastating” economic effects on Maine.

“All this week we’ve been hunting around here for the Republican health care bill. This morning we found it, and I’m kind of sorry we did because it’s pretty bad,” Senator King said in his video.

“It basically increases the cost of health care, particularly for seniors; massively cuts Medicaid, which supports people in nursing homes, disabled people, children – I mean, it is a really cruel bill. The President called the House bill ‘mean.’ I think this one is cruel.

“And it’s going to have a devastating effect economically on Maine, on our hospitals, and on our rural health care system – and all of this in the name of a huge tax cut for the wealthiest Americans. The top two percent are the ones who get the benefit. And really to be taking health care away from disabled people, the elderly in nursing homes, so very wealthy people can get a tax cut just doesn’t make sense for me.

“So we’re going to look at it carefully, we’re going to get a Congressional Budget Office score next week, and review the provisions but it doesn’t look very hopeful right now.

To watch Senator King’s video on Facebook, click HERE.

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