Even Senate Republicans Don’t Know What’s In Their Own Health Care Bill
By Sophie Ota | June 21, 2017, 2:33 p.m.
Category: Attacks on Planned Parenthood, Health Care Equity
Ever since the GOP’s Affordable Care Act repeal landed in the Senate last month, Senator Mitch McConnell and his health care working group have continued to write the Trumpcare bill in extreme secrecy. This means no hearings and no public input, with all discussion done behind closed doors—unlike the ACA, which received 25 days of floor debate and several hearings back in 2009.
And when the Trumpcare bill is released—which could be any day now—Americans will have little time to fully review the bill before McConnell forces a final vote.
But as McConnell’s exclusive, all-male working group plots to “defund” Planned Parenthood and gut Medicaid, fellow Senate Republicans remain in the dark about what their colleagues are planning. Case in point: Vox reported that when Republican senators were asked to explain the bill, they “rarely answered directly, at least not on the bill’s policy merits.”
Meet some of the GOP lawmakers who are dodging reporters’ questions about—or flat out don’t know—what’s in their own health care legislation.
1. Senators like Chuck Grassley (R-IA), simply can’t explain how their health care bill works. When asked if the bill would lower premiums, Grassley gave this murky response:
2. Meanwhile, some senators have shamelessly admitted they have no idea what’s in the bill at all. When asked whether he’d seen the legislation, John McCain (R-AZ) said:
3. Rand Paul (R-KY) hasn’t read the bill either.
4. Meanwhile, it’s unclear whether members of the working group allegedly writing the health care bill have even read it—like Orrin Hatch (R-UT).
5. And don’t forget that Tom Price—Trump’s disastrous pick for Health and Human Services secretary—said at a senate hearing recently that he hadn’t seen the legislation, either.
Take action
This is urgent. When a vote comes, we won’t have any warning—so it’s critical we turn up the pressure on our Senators now, whether they’re with us or against us.
1. Call your Senator
We need you to tell your Senator that you’re a part of the overwhelming majority that OPPOSES blocking patients from getting care at Planned Parenthood health centers. Thousands in your state could lose access to care because of these attacks on Planned Parenthood. Letters, petitions and emails are important, but we know that calls have the largest impact and grab lawmakers’ attention.
Call your Senator now using our call tool.
2. #PinkOut the Internet
You can also show your Senators that Planned Parenthood has a sea of supporters by helping us #PinkOut the internet today.
We’ve got to show the Senate we’re a force to be reckoned with. Take a photo and post it to social media today. Pink lights on your door. Pink signs in your window. Pink buttons on your bag. Pink outfit, pink nails, pink lips. Pink hair!
Then post it all to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat—you name it! Be sure to use the hashtag #IStandWithPP, and tag your Senators.
Also, be sure to change your profile picture to show your community you stand with PP. Go to twibbon.com/support/istandwithpp-2.
3. Tag Your Senators on Facebook
Senators (and their staff) will notice when you tag them. And believe us, they’re listening. Text PINK to 22422
Tags: Obamacare, Planned Parenthood, Congress, ACA, Mitch McConnell, AHCA
