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Secretive Republican healthcare bill sickens Democrats | Secretive Republican healthcare bill sickens Democrats |
(35 minutes later) | |
US Democrats are up in arms about secretive Senate Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare, with no sign of a bill a week before a crunch vote. | US Democrats are up in arms about secretive Senate Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare, with no sign of a bill a week before a crunch vote. |
President Donald Trump's party has been busily crafting a behind-closed-doors healthcare bill without holding any public hearings. | President Donald Trump's party has been busily crafting a behind-closed-doors healthcare bill without holding any public hearings. |
A Republican leader says he will present a draft bill on Thursday. | A Republican leader says he will present a draft bill on Thursday. |
The legislation affects affect tens of millions of Americans and a fifth of the US economy. | The legislation affects affect tens of millions of Americans and a fifth of the US economy. |
Senators are writing their own version after their colleagues in the House of Representatives passed Obamacare repeal legislation six weeks ago. | Senators are writing their own version after their colleagues in the House of Representatives passed Obamacare repeal legislation six weeks ago. |
Why are Democrats objecting? | Why are Democrats objecting? |
Democrats say Republicans are keeping the legislation under wraps until the last minute so it can be rammed through with just a few hours of floor debate. | Democrats say Republicans are keeping the legislation under wraps until the last minute so it can be rammed through with just a few hours of floor debate. |
To highlight what they see as a lack of transparency, three Democratic senators on Tuesday filmed their failed effort to obtain a copy of the bill from the Congressional Budget Office. | To highlight what they see as a lack of transparency, three Democratic senators on Tuesday filmed their failed effort to obtain a copy of the bill from the Congressional Budget Office. |
On Monday, Democrats brought Senate business to a standstill with a five-hour "talk-a-thon" to express outrage at Republican tactics. | On Monday, Democrats brought Senate business to a standstill with a five-hour "talk-a-thon" to express outrage at Republican tactics. |
"Republicans are drafting this bill in secret because they're ashamed of it, plain and simple," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. | "Republicans are drafting this bill in secret because they're ashamed of it, plain and simple," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. |
Republicans argue that Obamacare needs to be replaced because it has failed to prevent premiums and other health costs from skyrocketing. | Republicans argue that Obamacare needs to be replaced because it has failed to prevent premiums and other health costs from skyrocketing. |
What's in the Senate bill? | What's in the Senate bill? |
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell aims to have the legislation passed by 30 June, but few details have emerged. | Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell aims to have the legislation passed by 30 June, but few details have emerged. |
He has said the party leadership will unveil a "discussion draft" of the bill on Thursday. | He has said the party leadership will unveil a "discussion draft" of the bill on Thursday. |
All that most lawmakers and the public have to work on is the House version. A non-partisan congressional review predicted that version would leave 23 million fewer people insured over the next decade. | All that most lawmakers and the public have to work on is the House version. A non-partisan congressional review predicted that version would leave 23 million fewer people insured over the next decade. |
The House bill would also cut some $800bn (£633bn) from Medicaid - a government health programme for the poor. | The House bill would also cut some $800bn (£633bn) from Medicaid - a government health programme for the poor. |
Is this legislative secrecy typical? | Is this legislative secrecy typical? |
This clandestine approach to legislating has been seen in recent years, including the 2009 economic stimulus bill and the 2013 so-called fiscal cliff bill. | |
However, the upper chamber traditionally votes on major new legislation only after it has been crafted and revised by members of both parties. | |
When the Senate writes a bill, it usually circulates draft versions and holds public hearings for expert testimony before scheduling a vote. | |
The Senate healthcare bill is being crafted by one senator - Mitch McConnell, along with a coterie of aides. | The Senate healthcare bill is being crafted by one senator - Mitch McConnell, along with a coterie of aides. |
How did it work with Obamacare? | How did it work with Obamacare? |
Former President Barack Obama's 2010 Affordable Care Act was passed only after months of public committee hearings. | Former President Barack Obama's 2010 Affordable Care Act was passed only after months of public committee hearings. |
A number of Republican amendments to Obamacare were incorporated by Democrats at committee stage. | |
Current Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan said in 2009: "If you rush this thing through before anybody even knows what it is, that's not good democracy." | Current Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan said in 2009: "If you rush this thing through before anybody even knows what it is, that's not good democracy." |
Mr McConnell said in 2010: "Democrats on Capitol Hill are working behind the scenes on a plan aimed at jamming this massive health spending bill through Congress against the clear wishes of an unsuspecting public." | Mr McConnell said in 2010: "Democrats on Capitol Hill are working behind the scenes on a plan aimed at jamming this massive health spending bill through Congress against the clear wishes of an unsuspecting public." |
Are any Republicans objecting? | Are any Republicans objecting? |
The Republican leadership needs 50 votes to pass its health plan in the Senate. With a slender 52-28 majority, the party cannot afford many defections. | The Republican leadership needs 50 votes to pass its health plan in the Senate. With a slender 52-28 majority, the party cannot afford many defections. |
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul has already been critical of the plan. | Kentucky Senator Rand Paul has already been critical of the plan. |
"I think the death spiral of Obamacare continues," he said. "The Republican plan doesn't fix that; the Republican plan just subsidises it." | "I think the death spiral of Obamacare continues," he said. "The Republican plan doesn't fix that; the Republican plan just subsidises it." |
Asked whether he has seen the bill, Arizona Republican John McCain said on Tuesday: "No, nor have I met any American that has. | Asked whether he has seen the bill, Arizona Republican John McCain said on Tuesday: "No, nor have I met any American that has. |
"I'm sure the Russians have been able to hack in and gotten most of it." | "I'm sure the Russians have been able to hack in and gotten most of it." |
Senator Marco Rubio told CNN on Sunday: "If it is an effort to rush it from a small group of people, straight to the floor in an up or down vote, that would be a problem." | Senator Marco Rubio told CNN on Sunday: "If it is an effort to rush it from a small group of people, straight to the floor in an up or down vote, that would be a problem." |