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Vice President pushes GOP healthcare plan during stop in Jacksonville

Jacksonville, FL — Vice President Mike Pence was in Jacksonville Saturday, pitching the American Health Care Act to a crowd of Northeast Florida business owners at Mac Paper.

The vice president, Gov. Rick Scott and U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla., all pointed out flaws they see in the Affordable Health Care Act.

"Skyrocketing premiums, unaffordable deductibles, fewer choices and higher taxes," were Obamacare issues touched on by Pence. He said those problems will be corrected under President Donald Trump's health care plan.

“We’re going to end its mandates by eliminating its penalties. We’re going to give Americans more choices. We’re going to expand health savings accounts for every American. We’re going to give Americans a tax credit that will help buy the coverage they need at prices they can afford," Pence said.

The bill has met opposition from Obamacare supporters across the aisle. Democrats said the plan could harm vulnerable Americans.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says by 2026, 24 million Americans would be uninsured under the current proposal.

Trump is trying to get more GOP lawmakers on board by revising and improving the plan.

Supporters of the GOP plan said they've fallen victim to Obamacare are optimistic about the health care repeal and replacement.

"I should not be mandated by the government to have health insurance. I want to make a choice on what health insurance I want," Gary Snow told our partner Action News Jax.

GOP leaders are planning a vote in the House this Thursday.

Watch Live: Vice President Mike Pence pitched President Trump's healthcare plan in Jacksonville.

Posted by Action News Jacksonville on Saturday, March 18, 2017

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