Press Staff Blog
Before tuning into the Energy & Commerce and Ways & Means Committee markups this morning, here’s another reminder that Republicans are rushing the process and have no idea what the impact of their bill will be, courtesy of Senator Mike Lee (R-UT):
As you read Speaker Ryan’s op-ed in USA Today this morning, we thought we’d offer a look at how Ryan’s rhetoric on the House GOP’s ACA repeal bill compares to reality:
Ryan: “The collapsing law is driving up health care costs and driving out choices for American families.”
Reality: What will drive up premiums and will cause insurers to potentially drop out of the market? The uncertainty sown by Republicans, which is destabilizing our health care system.
After seven years, they finally showed Members of Congress and the American people their ACA repeal bill. But these couldn’t have been the headlines that GOP leaders were hoping for…
It’s taken seven years to see the Republican plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and it’s no wonder they’ve kept it hidden from the American people for so long. Check out how much MORE American families will have to pay (for less coverage, of course) both today and in 2020, according to an analysis from Vox:
Today’s GOP Quote of the Day is brought to you by Senator John Cornyn on the GOP’s missing ACA repeal bill:
“Everybody will get to read the bill at some point, but the House hasn't passed it yet. As soon as they pass it, sure. Everybody will have access to it."
Lawmakers Hunt for GOP's ACA Replacement Plan
By Dylan F. Moroses and Stephen K. Cooper
Posted March 3, 2017, Not for republication © Tax Analysts
Then: Speaker Ryan said when he took the gavel in October 2015: “Open up the process. Let people participate.”
Now: New York Magazine: House Republicans Announce Only Republicans Are Allowed to See New Health-Care Plan
Last night, the President said once again that Republicans would repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
But with what exactly? He didn’t say.
That’s because the GOP continues to be deeply divided over how to replace the Affordable Care Act and prevent millions of Americans from losing coverage or seeing costs skyrocket. Here’s a look at how their dysfunction is playing out in the headlines:
Politico: Republicans near make-or-break moment on Obamacare repeal
Don’t just take our word for it – a look at the headlines shows that we aren’t the only ones who thought the President’s speech was long on empty rhetoric and short on substance:
Roll Call: In Joint Address, Trump Offers Congress Few Policy Details
Just as we predicted, House Republicans are back to the drawing board on their draft reconciliation bill. From the Hill:
“A day after House conservatives panned a leaked GOP draft ObamaCare replacement plan, a top Republican leader on Tuesday described the proposed legislation as ‘no longer even a viable draft that we’re working off of.’”
... we see a headline like this: GOP Congressman Says A Drop In The Number Of Insured People Could Be "A Good Thing"
And that's coming from the Chair of the Energy and Commerce subcommittee on health, Rep. Mike Burgess (R-TX). We'd wager that most Americans don't agree that kicking millions of people off their health coverage is a "good thing."