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Democrats Seek to Require Senate Hearing Before Tens of Millions Lose Healthcare
On May 4th, the House GOP voted to take healthcare away from at least 23 million Americans according to the Congressional Budget Office report, which came after the vote was rushed through. Refresh yourself on the details here if needed.
As a group of Republican Senators operate in total secrecy on the Senate's version of a "healthcare" bill to take away said healthcare from nearly 10% of the country, Democratic Senators are attempting to respond in kind in a flailing attempt to slow it.
Senate Democrats are introducing legislation that would ban Republicans from bringing up their ObamaCare repeal and replace bill without holding a hearing on the bill.
The legislation, known as the "No Hearing, No Vote Act," would require a bill being passed under reconciliation — the fast-track process being used to repeal and replace ObamaCare — to be voted on by at least one committee and have had at least one hearing.
"Senate Republicans’ attempts to pass Trumpcare in the dark of night, without any transparency is one of the most egregious examples of legislative malpractice in decades. Republicans have held zero committee hearings, solicited zero bipartisan support, and plan to allow zero public debate," Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement.
Unfortunately, this is only a symbolic effort since Republicans hold the majority, hence why they're able to get away with the fast-track process to begin with.
The legislation is unlikely to be passed in the Senate, where Republicans are expected to clear their ObamaCare repeal and replace legislation without holding a public hearing.
As a quick refresh:
McConnell fast-tracked the House bill earlier this month, placing it on the Senate calendar and allowing it — as had been expected — to skip over the committee process.... McConnell's move will allow him to bring up the legislation quickly once Republicans are ready to vote.