Going and going and going
begin quote from:
Grueling fight over Obamacare repeal continues with no end in sight
GOP health care plan clears first hurdle, debate continues in committee
Story highlights
- Republicans are holding the line to block Democratic efforts to delay the bill to repeal Obamacare
- The bill has already drawn criticism from rank-and-file lawmakers
- Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett said the GOP bill had been kept "as secret as Donald Trump's tax returns."
Washington (CNN)The
House Ways and Means Committee needed 18 hours to become the first
panel to approve the Republicans' Obamacare repeal bill, nearly a full
day after debate began and with no end in sight.
Meanwhile
Democrats in another committee are continuing to use as many procedural
tactics as they can to delay the plan's advancement.
White
House and Republican congressional leaders had sought to fast-track the
legislation through Congress. Democrats have made clear it wouldn't be
easy -- dragging out a the grueling debate in the House Energy and
Commerce Committee well into the next day.
In
both committee rooms, GOP lawmakers dismissed questions about the
bill's cost and claims it would result in millions of Americans losing
insurance coverage. Democrats mixed assaults on the legislation with
diversionary tactics meant to embarrass Trump -- such as highlighting
his refusal to release his tax returns.
The
action on Capitol Hill comes against a backdrop of pitched controversy
over the legislation, which is posing a crucial first test to Trump's
capacity to move his agenda through Congress and as conservative
Republicans complain that the initiative does not go far enough in
erasing Barack Obama's signature domestic achievement.
Opposition
to the Republican health care bill had strengthened Wednesday, as key
industry groups that had supported Obamacare said the replacement backed
by President Donald Trump could harm vulnerable Americans.
The
American Medical Association, which bills itself as the largest
organization of doctors in the nation, sent a letter to the two
committees, detailing its critique of the bill, known as the American
Health Care Act.
"While we agree
that there are problems with the ACA that must be addressed, we cannot
support the AHCA as drafted because of the expected decline in health
insurance coverage and the potential harm it would cause to vulnerable
patient populations," the letter stated.
Major
hospital organizations, including the American Hospital Association and
the Federation of American hospitals have also come out against the
bill. The largest seniors organization, the AARP had warned on Tuesday
the measure would weaken Medicare and Medicaid. Some conservative
medical lobby groups have supported the measure.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer shrugged off the building opposition from the medical establishment.
"We
would love to have every group on board," Spicer said, adding, "This
isn't about figuring out how many special interests in Washington we can
get paid off. It's about making sure that patients get the best deal,
that lowers prices and brings back cost."
Trump
also showed willingness to jump into the fray, meeting with the leaders
of conservative groups that have lined up against the bill.
"This
is going to be great. You're going to make it even greater," the
President told the group, sources at the White House meeting told CNN.
"I'm going to work hard to get it done."
But
should the bill eventually fail, Trump outlined a backup plan: Allow
Obamcare to fail and let Democrats take the blame, sources said.
Working late
It
was a full day -- and night -- for lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Two
committees started their markups Wednesday morning at 10:30 a.m.
Eighteen
hours in, the Energy and Commerce Committee was still debating the
first Democratic amendment -- which was to change the name of the bill.
The Ways and Means Committee ended debate on the second of five
subtitles in the bill shortly before 11 p.m.
In the Ways and Means meeting room, there were signs that the long day was wearing on lawmakers.
Around 8 p.m., the panel's chairman, Rep. Kevin Brady, leaned back in his chair and put in eye drops.
Later,
as restless staffers' side conversations rose to regular volumes rather
than whispers, Brady had to call the room to order. Shortly before 4:30
a.m. Thursday, they voted 23-16 to approve their portion of the House
legislation.
Aides sat with
blankets in their laps or around their shoulders in the overly
air-conditioned room. One snuck in a box of Dunkin' Donuts "Munchkins"
to share.
The long day unfolded
with a series of dry-as-a-bone discussions about health care policy and
Democratic procedural measures to make the process as painful as
possible for their Republican colleagues.
At
one point, the minority forced the clerk of the House Energy and
Commerce Committee to read the full bill -- a procedure that took about
an hour. Democrats have promised at least 100 amendments, most of which
have no chance of passage. For instance, one defeated measure would have
blocked health care reform coming into force unless it ensured coverage
for every taxpayer and all their dependents.
The
GOP legislation unveiled Monday would get rid of Obamacare's individual
mandate and put in place refundable tax credits for individuals to
purchase health insurance. It also proposes restructuring Medicaid and
defunding Planned Parenthood.
The
bill looks to preserve some of the more popular elements of Obamacare,
including protections for people with pre-existing conditions (though
insurers would be allowed to charge higher premiums to individuals whose
coverage has lapsed) and letting children stay on their parents'
insurance plans until the age of 26.
Democrats want CBO score
Rep.
Richard Neal, the top Democrat on the Ways and Means panel, cited the
lack of a CBO report as a reason the effort should be postponed. "To
consider a bill of this magnitude without a CBO score is not only
puzzling and concerning, but also irresponsible," Neal said.
Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett said the GOP bill had been kept "as secret as Donald Trump's tax returns."
"It is surprising that you're so determined to hide your panacea," the Texas congressman told his Republican colleagues.
GOP leaders have said that the bill will not be brought to the floor until the CBO scores the legislation.
But
while Republican Majority Whip Steve Scalise told the Energy committee
that while he is also waiting for a CBO score, he will not let
"unelected bureaucrats in Washington" slow down the Republican promise
to repeal and replace Obamacare.
One
Democratic committee aide said the intent is to "make some Republicans
take some really tough votes" that are "revealing" about the GOP's
priorities on health care.
Democratic
Rep. Brian Higgins highlighted a provision of the bill that provides a
tax break for health insurance companies amid criticism that it will
simply be passed onto industry executives. Higgins listed the
million-dollar salaries enjoyed by CEOs at health care giants like
Aetna, Anthem, Cigna and United Healthcare.
It's "morally reprehensible," Higgins said.
Despite the fraught political circumstances, there was a moment of levity at the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Rep.
Jan Schakowsky, a Democrat from Illinois, said she was going to blast
the Republican plan using President Trump's Twitter vernacular.
"Bad!" she said loudly. "Sad!"
This story has been updated.
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