Republicans' Secret ACA Repeal Bill
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On Tuesday, Speaker Ryan claimed Republicans are following the normal process:
Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI): “We’re going through the committee process. We’re doing this step by step. We’re having public hearings. We’re having committees work on legislation. This is how the legislative process is supposed to be designed. We’re not hatching some bill in a backroom and plopping it on the American people’s front door.” [Today Show, 2/28/17]
But on Wednesday, we find out the GOP Affordable Care Act repeal draft is hidden under lock and key, with no hearings or Congressional Budget Office score before it gets marked up next week:
“House Republican leaders have a new version of their major Obamacare repeal and replacement bill. They just don’t want you to see it. The document is being treated a bit like a top-secret surveillance intercept. It is expected to be available to members and staffers on the House Energy and Commerce panel starting Thursday, but only in a dedicated reading room, one Republican lawmaker and a committee aide said. Nobody will be given copies to take with them.” [Bloomberg, 3/1/17]
Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY): “The draft of it is going to be available tomorrow for those of us on the health subcommittee to start poring through… Unfortunately for you, we’re making sure it won’t be leaked.” [Bloomberg, 3/1/17]
Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL): “We’re not having a hearing or anything… But there’ll be a place for us to view it, the draft.” [Bloomberg, 3/1/17]
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY): “I have been told that the House Obamacare bill is under lock & key, in a secure location, & not available for me or the public to view.” [Tweet, 3/2/17]
Two Members disagree with that decision:
Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX): “People need to have access to this document, and if there are problems let's talk through them. It's been a long time in the works, most of the pieces that are in there, people have seen in one form or another in the past, but it does need to be an open process.” [MSNBC, 3/1/17]
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY): “I demand the House release the text of the bill. Every elected official & every American deserve to know what they're trying to do.” [Tweet, 3/2/17]
Speaker Ryan USED to support an open process:
Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI): “This is too important to rush this thing through Congress. This is 17 percent of our economy. Let's sit down and do it right.” [PBS Newshour, 7/21/09]
Republicans called for an open process during ACA debate:
Rep. Tom Price (R-GA): “The negotiations are obviously being done in secret and the American people really just want to know what they are trying to hide.” [CBS, 1/6/10]
Former Speaker John Boehner (R-OH): “This bill is being written in the dark of night… the president ought to keep his promise to the American people and open this process up.” [Washington Post, 10/18/09]
Kevin McCarthy (R-CA): “This bill is being pushed through because the majority in this Congress refused to listen to the people.” [House Floor, 3/21/10]
Former Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA): “You cannot expect to craft a bipartisan healthcare bill in secret, closed door meetings attended only by members of one political party.” [Republican Main Street Press Release, 10/22/09]
Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO): “What the freshmen Republicans here want is what the American people want, and that is more transparency and a more deliberate process.” [Press Conference, 10/27/09]
Former Rep. Chris Lee (R-NY): “At the end of the day, the American public who is cheated when we do not have an opportunity to review what’s in given legislation.” [Press Conference, 10/27/09]
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN): “[T]humbing their nose at the American people by ramming through a partisan bill would be the same thing as going to war without asking Congress' permission. You might technically be able to do it, but you'd pay a terrible price in the next election.” [Fox News Sunday, 9/6/09]
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