Republicans and Democrats clashed on the Senate floor Thursday when Democrats repeatedly asked for more time to review the GOP’s new healthcare bill, a request that was repeatedly denied by the majority party.
Democrats also called on Republicans to torch their new bill and start over with them, a request that was also rejected by the GOP.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., announced Thursday that lawmakers will begin consideration of the healthcare bill next week and could vote on it before the July 4 break, following Thursday’s release of a 142-page “discussion draft.” It’s not clear when the actual bill text will be introduced.
Democrats have accused the GOP of drafting the plan in secret. It was written after weeks of closed-door hearings with the entire GOP conference, as well as private discussions by a 13-member healthcare working group.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in a heated exchange with GOP leaders in the Senate chamber, asked the GOP to toss out their plan and start over with Democrats.
“Let us right now, Democrats and Republicans, sit down right now and try to come up with a bipartisan bill,” Schumer, D-N.Y., said. “We are willing to do it right now this minute. Will you accept the offer?”
Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Congress needs to move quickly to fix the Obamacare law because health insurers are preparing to raise rates by double digits. He also noted that Democrats told Republicans in a letter that they wanted no part of the effort as long as Republicans are looking to repeal and replace Obamacare.
“If I thought that was a sincere offer I would take it in a minute but it’s not,” Cornyn responded to Schumer.
Their discussion took place during a series of back and forths in which Democrats asked unanimous consent to allow for more time to look at the bill and consider amendments. But Cornyn and others shot down those requests each time.
Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mich., was one of a few Democrats to ask the GOP to reject their plan and start over with Democrats. Others argued that even Republicans don’t know what’s in the bill.
“We won’t see the real bill, apparently, until next week even though we were told we would see it this morning,” Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said on the Senate floor. “Thirteen men in a private room wrote this discussion draft that is not a bill. Even the other side doesn’t know what we have. This is deplorable.”
