Mitch McConnell is about to call a vote on his devastating Trumpcare bill. Here’s what happens next
By Sophie Ota | July 24, 2017, 2:56 p.m.
Category: Attacks on Planned Parenthood, Health Care Equity
The latest version of the Senate’s Obamacare repeal bill — written entirely by men behind closed doors — is still a disaster. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is determined to ram this disastrous legislation through the Senate this week.
But we can stop it. Here’s a play-by-play of how that could happen:
Step 1: Vote to open debate.
As early as tomorrow morning, McConnell could call a vote that decides if the Senate will move forward to debate and vote on Trumpcare. He needs 51 votes to do so.
Step 2: Begin debate.
Each party has 10 hours to debate the bill. McConnell could potentially yield Republicans’ floor time, which would cut debate time in half and allow him to ram his bad bill through the Senate even faster.
Don’t let McConnell get away with jamming this through. Here’s how you can stop him in his tracks.
Step 3: Vote-a-Rama!
This step could last hours — even days. It includes rapid-fire consideration of amendments and little or no debate. This whirlwind period of voting makes it easier for Republicans to slip in bad provisions and dangerous amendments, since there’s not a lot of time for thorough review.
Step 4: Debate ends and senators have a final vote on passage.
If the Senate votes “Yes”...
Step 5: The bill is passed back to the House.
If the House votes yes — which they will likely do very quickly since the original bill had overwhelming Republican support in May — then the bill goes to the president.
We can’t let this happen. Put pressure on your senator NOW.
Step 6: The bill lands on Trump’s desk for him to sign.
But if the Senate or the House votes “No”...
RESULT: Millions of Americans KEEP their healthcare.
TL;DR
Here's what the whole process looks like:
THE BOTTOM LINE: No amount of DC wheeling and dealing will change the fact that this bill takes away health care from tens of millions of people. Senators shouldn’t negotiate away millions of people’s Medicaid coverage to protect political interests.
Want to stop the ACA repeal?
Let’s make sure this bill is stopped as soon as possible.
1. Call Your Senator
Let's keep lawmakers’ phones ringing off the hook. Thousands in your state could lose access to care because of attacks on Planned Parenthood. Letters, petitions, and emails are important, but we know calls have the largest impact and grab lawmakers’ attention.
Call your senator now using our call tool.
2. Tag Your Senators on Social Media
Your senators need to know you oppose repealing the Affordable Care Act and blocking patients from care at Planned Parenthood.
3. Be a PP Defender
Defenders are a core group of supporters give their time to defend Planned Parenthood, the health services they provide, and the people who rely on them — in what just may be the fight of our lives.
Tags: Congress, ACA, AHCA, Mitch McConnell, bcra, Trumpcare, Trump, Senate, Obamacare, Health Care