The Senate is moving ahead with the repeal of Obamacare with their vote on Tuesday to begin floor debate. However, hours after the first vote they failed to pass the repeal-and-replace proposal. That failed vote signaled the desperate straits the Republicans find themselves. They voted over and over for seven years to repeal Obamacare, but when they finally gained complete control of the House, Senate and Presidency they are at a stalemate. They are paralyzed to act, not because of the Democrats, but because they can’t reach a consensus among their own members.
Republicans have violated every recognized rule for successfully advancing legislation. They crafted their Trumpcare bill in secret and they refused to hold public hearings to obtain input from the many healthcare providers most effected by the law. They used the unconventional reconciliation process to avoid the 60-vote requirement in order to specifically exclude Democrats from the process. They didn’t even allow their own members to read their bill in advance. They have painted themselves in a corner with their undemocratic and incompetent attempts at writing a repeal and replace bill.
In addition, the Tuesday vote was eclipsed by the return of Senator John McCain to the Senate floor following brain surgery for cancer. McCain’s courageous return less than two weeks after life-threatening surgery was cheered and celebrated by both Democrats and Republicans. His return and his critical comments about the Republicans process dominated the news-cycle. McCain delivered a fiery speech condemning Republicans process for excluding Democrats.
“Let’s trust each other. Let’s return to regular order. We’ve been spinning our wheels on too many important issues because we keep trying to find a way to win without help from across the aisle,” he said.
“Stop listening to the bombastic loudmouths on the radio, television and the internet,” he intoned. “To hell with them! They don’t want anything done for the public good. Our incapacity is their livelihood.”
“I voted for the motion to proceed to allow debate to continue,” McCain said. “I will not vote for this bill as it is today. It’s a shell of a bill right now.”
The fight by Democrats to preserve or improve Obamacare continues. Dozens of liberal groups across America are joining ranks to oppose the Republicans’ attempt at Obamacare repeal. They are planning “Day-of-Action” rallies in many major American cities this Saturday, July 29th. That date was chosen because it’s the 52nd anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid. They have chosen as their theme, “Our-lives-on-the-line,” which signifies the life and death consequences of the Republicans’ proposed Medicaid cuts and Obamacare repeal.
The national sponsoring groups have drawn organizers from this year’s Women’s March, the Science March and the Tax March. The participating groups include Indivisible, Organizing for Action, Our Revolution, Move-On.org, Planned Parenthood, Center for Democratic Action, Labor groups and others.
Here in Iowa the leaders of the Women’s March are taking the lead on statewide organizing. The following Iowa cities have events planned: Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Sioux City and Waterloo. Individuals can find the Iowa event nearest to them by going to the national site, http://ourlivesontheline.org
by Rick Smith
Posted 7/27/17
Republicans in Congress are simply “bought and paid for” by Big Healthcare …. drug companies, health insurance, many hospitals and doctors, and others who are part of creating our broken system. It is encouraging that the GOP bills have little support from the public … an indication that Obamacare is a much preferred solution. Hopefully, we can as a country move toward a system similar to every other developed country, one that is much less expensive and covers everyone … ie. Medicare for all. With the GOP offering at 17% or so approval, NOW is the time for Democrats to push for single payer / Medicare for all … which seems to have the support of most Americans.
McCain said, “I will not vote for this bill as it is today. It’s a shell of a bill right now.” Well, he was right about a shell of a bill. But the hypocritical b*st*rd voted “yea”, anyway. Your subterfuge didn’t work, Senator! They are bankrupt of ideas, and their caucus is entirely undemocratic, as Tim D says, bought and sold by big pharma and Wall Street (after all, their “plans” are nothing but tax cut for the rich packages). Their plans stink so badly, even the private insurance companies are pushing back against them. As that “Lifelock” commercial say, “Now THAT’S bad!” A single-payer type, Medicare for All plan is the only viable way to go from here – but will Republicans EVER accept that? (and will wishy-washy Dems fully support it?)
Yes, I was surprised when I checked on his voting record. Sadly Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst voted yes on both votes. I emailed McCain and Ernst and expressed my views to them. Congress needs to start doing what is best for US citizens. I thought McCain was encouraging this but now it is gone again.
Ricky, the first part of your article stating the rebublicans are trying to force it through without including the Dems or that the republicans don’t even know whats in it themselves sounds all to familiar. I believe Obama care was pushed through the same way and what was it that Pelosi said? “We have to pass it to find out whats in it”
Single payer not the way.
a closer look reveals that single-payer health care drives up costs, reduces choices, worsens care, and almost always ends up costing a LOT more than advocates claim. In turn, this leads to huge amounts of government debt and higher taxes, largely financed by Millennials – the young and the healthy.
In California, single-payer advocates are currently pushing a plan that analysts say would cost taxpayers a whopping $400 billion a year –which would likely require significant tax increases. Even California’s Governor, who previously ran on single-payer, isn’t on board and fears the plan would be bad for the state.
I’m not opposed to working together but I just don’t see either party ever getting on the same page.
1.) The process under Republicans is significantly different than it was under Democrats:
“In June and July 2009, with Democrats in charge, the Senate health committee spent nearly 60 hours over 13 days marking up the bill that became the Affordable Care Act. That September and October, the Senate Finance Committee worked on the legislation for eight days — its longest markup in two decades. It considered more than 130 amendments and held 79 roll-call votes. The full Senate debated the health care bill for 25 straight days before passing it on Dec. 24, 2009.” – http://www.snopes.com/aca-versus-ahca/
2.) Obamacare is the moderate conservative policy proposal to extend health insurance via private health insurers on the idea that is is good to preserve private health insurance competition. The elected Republican leaders can’t fix the current problems because then they would have to admit that the whole piece of legislation originated on their side and that it was the Democrats who came to the table and accepted a Republican proposal in an attempt at a bipartisan solution.
3.) Name one country that has a universal health coverage scheme that costs more than the US’s current system? You literally can not find another country that is more expensive.
This entire health care debacle has revealed the lies of the Republican leadership and their inability/desire to come to terms with realty.
Excellent article bringing we the citizens up to date on most recent events transpiring to remake our healthcare system. Still waiting for the next version coming from Senator McConnell any moment. The hope is always that compromise could be seen for all sides. Perhaps if our leaders believed all of the citizens were entitled to equal treatment we could get there quickly. By the way–for facts regarding process of ACA check C-span 2009 and 2010. Video lasts forever.
Update as to the Republican rush to pass the “Skinny Repeal” and make a mess of the ACA. Run out the clock till midnight by having Senator Enzi talk non-stop, germane to nothing. Irony here as I distinctly remember him screeching how he was not paying for women’s healthcare when the ACA was being written and amendments debated. Not everyone has such poor memory as the Republican’s–can’t wait to hear from Senator Grassley and Senator Ernst on their vote tonight.