Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Monday that the Republican plan to repeal and replace Obamacare “includes the necessary tools” to provide better healthcare.
While he did not set a timeline for debate on the measure, Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn told a group of reporters in the Capitol Monday that a procedural vote to begin debate on the measure could happen as early as Tuesday.
“I am closing the door,” Cornyn, R-Texas, tweeted Monday. “We need to do it this week before double-digit premium increases are announced for next year.”
McConnell, R-Ky., implored the Senate to “keep working” on the Better Care Reconciliation Act “so we can move forward with a robust floor debate and an open amendment process here on the Senate floor.”
McConnell is hoping to hold a final vote on the measure by Thursday and send the bill to the House before lawmakers adjourn for a weeklong recess. Cornyn said a procedural vote to get on with the bill could take place as early as Tuesday.
Republicans on Monday released a slightly revised version of a draft unveiled last week. The changes would impose a six-month waiting period for people who let their health insurance plan lapse and then try to sign on to a new plan.
McConnell pointed to a statement about the revision by the health insurer Anthem, who said imposing a waiting period “will markedly improve the stability of the individual market and moderate premium increases through substantial stability funding, appropriating cost-sharing reduction funds, aligning premium subsidies with premium costs, and eliminating the health insurance tax which alone would result in a 3 to 5 percent premium decrease for our fully insured members.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called the waiting period “inhumane” and said the overall bill would cost more and offer fewer benefits in order to give tax breaks to the wealthy.
Schumer said Republicans are trying to rush through the legislation in four days because they are “ashamed” of the proposal.
Republicans must find support among 50 of their 52 GOP lawmakers. So far at least five GOP lawmakers have said they want changes to the legislation or they will vote against it.
A spokesman for McConnell did not immediately confirm the upcoming procedural vote, which was tweeted by several reporters.
“Cornyn just said they could have the 1st procedural vote on the GOP health care bill as early as Tues afternoon, but could be Wed.,” NBC producer Frank Thorp tweeted.
