The latest on the Trumpdeath bill
by digby
The New York Times reports that Republicans are getting nervous about this too:
“I’ve said from Day 1, and I’ll say it again,” said Senator Bob Corker, Republican of Tennessee. “The process is better if you do it in public, and that people get buy-in along the way and understand what’s going on. Obviously, that’s not the route that is being taken.”
The secrecy surrounding the Senate measure to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act appears to be remarkable — at least for a health care measure this consequential. In 1993, President Bill Clinton empowered the first lady, Hillary Clinton, to assemble health care legislation in private, with input from a panel of more than 500 experts.
That approach won scathing reviews from lawmakers in both parties. But it took place at the White House, not in Congress. Once the Clintons’ health plan reached Capitol Hill, it died in the public spotlight.
Republican leaders this week defended their actions.
“Look, we’ve been dealing with this issue for seven years,” the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, said. “It’s not a new thing.”
Mr. McConnell said there had been “gazillions of hearings on this subject” over the years — a less-than-precise tabulation that offered little comfort to Democrats who want hearings held now, in this particular year, on the contents of this particular bill.
In the summer of 2009, when Democratic members of Congress were defending their effort to remake the nation’s health care system, they were taunted by crowds chanting, “Read the bill, read the bill.”
Now Democrats say they would love to read the Republicans’ repeal bill, but cannot do so because Republicans have not exposed their handiwork to public inspection.
“They’re ashamed of the bill,” the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer of New York, said. “If they like the bill, they’d have brass bands marching down the middle of small-town America saying what a great bill it is. But they know it isn’t.”
The Senate’s decisions could have huge implications: Health care represents about one-sixth of the American economy, and about 20 million people have gained insurance under the 2010 health law, President Barack Obama’s signature legislative achievement.
In theory, the bill-writing process is open to any of the 52 Republican senators, but few seem to have a clear, coherent picture of what will be in it.
Senator Ron Johnson, Republican of Wisconsin, offered a hint of the same frustration felt by Democrats seeking more information about the bill.
“I come from a manufacturing background,” Mr. Johnson said. “I’ve solved a lot of problems. It starts with information. Seems like around here, the last step is getting information, which doesn’t seem to be necessarily the most effective process.”
Mitch McConnell is a very accomplished Senate leader and he's telling them all "don't worry be happy, I know what I'm doing." But he's not infallible. Consider his most famous quote:
“The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.”
Democrats shouldn't be spooked by his self-assurance. He can fail.
Remember, John Boehner was a very accomplished leader too and he had to throw himself on his sword to keep the government open.
This can be stopped.
.
