Protesters Support Affordable Care Act At Congressman’s Toms River Office

TOMS RIVER – Protesters marched outside Rep. Tom MacArthur’s (R-3rd) Toms River office today lobbying for support to keep the Affordable Care Act.

MacArthur pledged support of the American Health Care Act, its replacement, according to published reports. The protesters wanted to urge him to change his mind.

“We want him to vote ‘no’ on the health care bill that has been fast tracked through Congress, and will hurt more than it will help,” said Amanda Devecka-Rinear, the director of New Jersey Organizing Project, a grassroots organization that grew up after Super Storm Sandy issues were not addressed promptly enough.

Photo by Chris Lundy

Health care is an overwhelming concern for a lot of people who are still recovering from the effects of the storm that destroyed so many homes more than four years ago, she said. There are so many people saying “I’m going to lose my health care.”

About two dozen marchers were walking at around 5 p.m. by the congressman’s office in downtown Toms River with signs like “Resist Trump” and “Love it! Improve it! Medicare for all!” Some cars passing during rush hour traffic honked and waved in support.

A call to MacArthur’s office at 5 p.m. was unsuccessful. At a town hall meeting in Waretown recently, MacArthur said he would only support replacing the Affordable Care Act if the replacement also covered residents up to age 26, covered pre-existing conditions, and would “not pull the rug out from under the working poor.”