WASHINGTON— Residents of the Fourth Congressional District of Arizona, which takes up most of Phoenix’s inner-city, the Town of Guadalupe and south Glendale, could experience a huge setback in their health care coverage if the landmark health care reform legislation was repealed, U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor said Wednesday as Republicans tried to roll back the law. Pastor, who represents the Fourth Congressional District of Arizona, said the Republican proposal is a “huge step backwards.”

“Without maintaining the strong protections enacted under these (health care reform) laws, hundreds of thousands of people in the Fourth District, including 60,000 children, could be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition,” Pastor said. “Additionally, 5,000 seniors on Medicare will face immediate increases in the cost of their medication, while an additional 58,000 will be forced to pay out-of-pocket for preventive screenings for conditions such as breast and colon cancer.”

Republicans want to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-142) and the health provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (Public Law 111-152).

“With our economy struggling to get back on track, repealing health care will deny hundreds of small businesses and thousands of families in my district crucial tax credits to help offset the cost of coverage,” Pastor added.

Pastor added he has long supported the idea of health care as a right, not a privilege.

“It is with that in mind that I strongly oppose this misguided action,” he concluded.