Senate Democrats are appalled by the draft of the Obamacare repeal bill unveiled earlier on Thursday by Senate Republicans.
In a speech on the Senate floor shortly after the discussion draft was released to the public, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York proclaimed that the bill “will result in higher costs, less care and millions of Americans will lose their health insurance, particularly through Medicaid.”
He added, “It’s every bit as bad as the House bill. In some ways it’s even worse.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, though technically an independent, shared the Democrats’ fierce criticism of the new legislation.
The bill Republicans announced today is even worse than expected and by far the most harmful piece of legislation I've seen in my lifetime. https://t.co/EIVIdTKY1x
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) June 22, 2017
Republicans want to throw millions of Americans off of health insurance while providing over $200 billion in tax breaks to the top 2%.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) June 22, 2017
Our job now is to rally millions of Americans against this disastrous bill to make sure that it does not pass the Senate.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) June 22, 2017
Sanders’ ire was shared by Sen. Kamala Harris of California, who has recently emerged as a prominent and influential voice within the Democratic Party.
All of us in Congress should be trying to help, not hurt, the people we represent. We owe it to them to vote down the GOP #HealthcareBill.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) June 22, 2017
To my colleagues I say: This is about what’s right and what’s wrong. If you know this bill is bad, stand up and stop it. #HoldTheFloor
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) June 19, 2017
Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut went on a particularly prolonged Twitter rant against the bill, emphasizing that the Republican bill “will literally cost American lives.”
1/2 Senate Republicans’ version of Trumpcare apparently a cut-and-paste reprise of cruel, costly House bill https://t.co/iWJEj5oHle
— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) June 22, 2017
2/2 Eliminating protections, plummeting coverage, gutting Medicaid. Reprehensible, irresponsible&just plain mean.
— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) June 22, 2017
Senate GOP's nips and tucks to House #healthcare bill aren't nearly enough to reshape this plan into anything approaching responsible.
— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) June 22, 2017
Under this bill, countless #CT patients, and millions more across America, will lose access to vital #healthcare services and protections.
— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) June 22, 2017
The Republicans’ #healthcare plan will literally cost American lives.
— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) June 22, 2017
Let's not forget, 13 GOP men worked in secret to craft a bill that defunds Planned Parenthood and blocks women and men from critical care.
— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) June 22, 2017
And just like the House, Senate Republicans want to gut #Medicaid – throwing children and families who rely on it to the wolves.
— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) June 22, 2017
Seniors will see skyrocketing #healthcare costs, if they can get any coverage at all under this heartless plan.
— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) June 22, 2017
And while the opioid crisis rages in every corner of the country, this bill woefully underfunds drug treatment and recovery programs.
— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) June 22, 2017
My constituents know this bill would decimate access to the #healthcare they need. I vow to fight it tooth and nail.
— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) June 22, 2017
Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts (who is celebrating her birthday today) announced on Twitter that she would oppose “this monstrosity of a so-called healthcare bill” on the Senate floor.
Women aren’t fools. We know the difference between reality & lies. That’s why we’re fighting back to stop the @SenateGOP healthcare bill. pic.twitter.com/GHTsPpIJn2
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) June 21, 2017
Just got out of a Banking Committee hearing. Reading the @SenateGOP healthcare bill for the first time now. I'll share my thoughts soon. pic.twitter.com/5TrdduAO1Z
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) June 22, 2017
Heading to the Senate floor now to talk about the @SenateGOP's monstrosity of a so-called healthcare bill. Watch: https://t.co/Zy6PaFeuKv
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) June 22, 2017
Perhaps the most incisive Twitter rant came from Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania. After breaking down how the new bill would impact residents of his state, he went through specific provisions of the law to explain their devastating effect on ordinary people. These provisions include: revoking the essential health benefits requirement, reducing Medicaid funding, cutting $4 billion from the Prevention & Public Health Fund, imposing an age tax, permitting states to allow insurance companies to increase rates for individuals with pre-existing conditions and a provision that “essentially subsidizes the bonuses of Health Insurance Executives.”
Going through this disaster of a 'health care' plan now. https://t.co/4mbFPR5Fg6
— Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) June 22, 2017
This scheme sells out the middle class, seniors and individuals with disabilities to pay for a tax cut for the wealthy. That's obscene.
— Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) June 22, 2017
Page 41. They revoke the essential health benefits requirement. pic.twitter.com/1fxrRRrwyg
— Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) June 22, 2017
This means insurance companies are no longer required to cover things like maternity care and emergency services. This will effect everyone.
— Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) June 22, 2017
Page 86. Decimating Medicaid. pic.twitter.com/bRKuoMPCy5
— Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) June 22, 2017
Page 133. They only commit to combating the opioid crisis for a year. As bad as the house version is, at least they committed to 10. pic.twitter.com/Rg725uUY3F
— Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) June 22, 2017
Considering they also cut Medicaid which provides addiction treatment, both versions are woefully inadequate.
— Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) June 22, 2017
Page 29. This one I submit without comment. pic.twitter.com/YlQiEkCHd9
— Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) June 22, 2017
This cuts over $4 billion from the Prevention & Public Health Fund. That’s a cruel joke on those who need preventive care & immunizations. pic.twitter.com/iEPw2Z3Slr
— Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) June 22, 2017
Page 134. Here's your age tax. House version started the age tax in 2018, Senate waits until 2019. I wonder why that could be. 🤔 pic.twitter.com/HohquO27TF
— Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) June 22, 2017
Thank you @governorwolf. This is a must read thread. This bill is a bad deal for PA. https://t.co/Nf6r7vuOcA
— Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) June 22, 2017
Page 135. This allows states to let insurance companies charge you more because of a pre-existing condition. pic.twitter.com/sKXdBNdxsg
— Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) June 22, 2017
Page 30. This essentially subsidizes the bonuses of Health Insurance Executives. pic.twitter.com/Cd2bHVFTyB
— Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) June 22, 2017
