Senate finally unveils secret health care bill

[Valin]

CNN

MJ Lee, Tami Luhby, Lauren Fox and Phil Mattingly, CNN

Updated 11:17 AM ET, Thu June 22, 2017

 

Washington (CNN)The closely guarded Senate health care bill written entirely behind closed doors finally became public Thursday in a do-or-die moment for the Republican Party's winding efforts to repeal Obamacare.

The unveiling of the legislation marks the first time that the majority of the Senate GOP conference gets a comprehensive look at the health care proposal. With Majority Leader Mitch McConnell pressing ahead for a vote next week, senators only a handful of days to decide whether to support or vote against the bill.

The bill is very similar to the version of the House bill that passed last month but with some key changes. The text released Thursday showed the Senate legislation would still make major changes to the nation's health care system, repealing Obamacare's individual mandate, drastically cutting back federal support of Medicaid, eliminating Obamacare's taxes on the wealthy, insurers and others. The Senate plan however would keep Obamacare's subsidies to help people pay for individual coverage.

McConnell's decision to keep the details tightly under wraps until Thursday was intentional and aimed at winning over his colleagues out of the public spotlight, but the secretive process has infuriated Democrats -- and aggravated plenty of Republicans, too.

 

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Bill Here

[Valin]

 

 

Forward to 2:00.

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[Valin]

Let The Games Begin!

 

Senator Rand Paul‏Verified account @RandPaul

 

Today I join senators Lee, Johnson, and Cruz in opposition to the #HealthcareBill. Read here: http://www.paul.senate.gov/news/press/sens-paul-cruz-johnson-and-lee-issue-joint-statement-on-senate-health-bill …

 

11:01 AM - 22 Jun 2017

 

Sens. Paul, Cruz, Johnson, and Lee Issue Joint Statement on Senate Health Bill

 

WASHINGTON – Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ron Johnson (R-WI), and Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Thursday responding to the release of the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017: 

“Currently, for a variety of reasons, we are not ready to vote for this bill, but we are open to negotiation and obtaining more information before it is brought to the floor. There are provisions in this draft that represent an improvement to our current health care system, but it does not appear this draft as written will accomplish the most important promise that we made to Americans: to repeal Obamacare and lower their health care costs.”