The leaders of the bipartisan National Governors Association are asking Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to give states more time to read and analyze the impact of the Senate’s healthcare bill before holding a vote on the proposal.
“As chief executives of our states, we have an obligation to protect the health and welfare of our citizens. The nation’s governors are ready to work with leaders in Washington to make healthcare more accessible and affordable to the people we serve,” Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, the NGA’s chair, and Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, vice-chair of the NGA’s health and human services committee, wrote in a letter to McConnell.
“However, governors must be given adequate time to determine the impact any healthcare bill will have on their states and residents, and ensure that the bill does not adversely harm the people we were elected to serve,” McAuliffe, a Democrat, and Baker, a Republican, continued.
Making sure more Americans have access to affordable, quality #healthcare isn’t a partisan issue @NatlGovsAssoc #AHCA #ACA pic.twitter.com/da6c0rmg6i
— Terry McAuliffe (@TerryMcAuliffe) June 26, 2017
Senate Republicans revealed the text of their healthcare bill Thursday, and subsequently released an updated proposal Monday.
The Congressional Budget Office will release its analysis of the plan Monday afternoon.
McConnell, R-Ky., said he wants a vote on the bill before senators leave for the week-long July 4th recess.
Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, joined the majority leader in urging a vote this week, and said Monday a vote on the bill couldn’t wait any longer.
“We need to do it this week before double-digit premium increases are announced for next year,” Cornyn said on his Twitter account.
The push for a quick vote comes after five Republican senators said they oppose the Senate’s plan to partially repeal and replace Obamacare.
With the GOP controlling 52 seats in the Senate, McConnell can only afford to lose three votes, or else the bill fails.
Several Republican governors have expressed skepticism about the healthcare bill, and governors on both sides of the aisle representing states that expanded Medicaid are worried about how the proposal will impact their state’s Medicaid populations.
“On behalf of the National Governors Association, we urge you to give states sufficient time to review the legislation before proceeding, so that the full impact of the legislation may be understood and explained to the American people,” McAuliffe and Baker wrote.
