 begin quote from:Republicans opposed to GOP health plan hear from voters |
Republicans opposing GOP health care plan hear from voters during recess
Story highlights
- At least nine Republican senators expressed reservations about the GOP health care plan
- During this recess, those lawmakers in particular are hearing from their constituents
(CNN)With
the Senate in recess and negotiations on the health care bill still
underway, activists have been maintaining pressure on Republicans
already opposed to the stalled legislation, aiming to keep them in the
"no" column and prevent the majority party from obtaining the 50 votes
they need.
Going into this week's holiday recess, activists were already planning to target public events and festivities on July 4 in anticipation of appearances by elected officials.
Republican
Sen. Susan Collins, who opposes the current plan, said she was still a
"no" while talking to reporters at a parade in Eastport, Maine, which is
known as the biggest Fourth of July event in the state.
"What
I've been hearing the entire recess is people telling me to be strong,
that they have a lot of concerns about the health care bill in the
senate, they want me to keep working on it, but they don't want me to
support it in its current form," she told reporters.
While
Republican leaders had hoped to vote on the bill before the holiday
recess, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced last week the Senate would delay the vote after several GOP senators voiced serious concerns about the bill as drafted.
Collins,
a center-right Republican, argued the bill would be too harmful to her
constituents because of the impact of Medicaid cuts on rural populations
and the elderly.
"I've found that
Mainers are very well informed about the legislation, and they're deeply
concerned about what it's going to mean for themselves and their
neighbors," she said.
Collins added that she'll remain against the bill unless it's "dramatically changed."
Across the country, Republican Sen. Dean Heller, who's been staunchly opposed to the bill, returned to his home state of Nevada, where he faces a tough re-election bid next year.
Heller
participated Tuesday in a parade in the small town of Ely, Nevada, with
a population of about 4,200 people. One man urged Heller to "vote yes
on that health bill" as the senator rode by on a horse.
Another
Republican, Sen. Ted Cruz, faced a large group of protesters at a
parade in McAllen, Texas. Speaking to CNN affiliate KVEO, Cruz said the
demonstrators were an illustration of democracy at work.
"One
of the great things about freedom in America is even people who
disagree can speak out, and there is a small group of people on the left
who, right now, are very angry," he said. "We can engage in cordial and
civil debate -- that's how democracy works and that's how it's meant to
work."
Cruz was one of four
senators who opposed the Senate bill as written before McConnell decided
to delay a vote on the legislation. He joined three other conservative
Republican senators who argued the bill did not go far enough in
repealing Obamacare
Meanwhile, more
moderate Republicans, like Heller and Collins, opposed the bill's
Medicaid cuts. By the time the Senate went into recess, the total tally
of "no" Republican votes inched up to nine. McConnell can only afford to
lose two Republican votes in order for his legislation to pass the
chamber.
Outside Sen. Pat Toomey's
office in Philadelphia, demonstrators gathered for a "Tuesdays with
Toomey" protest, where several people laid down on a sidewalk holding
signs in the shape of tombstones. (Toomey was largely supportive the
bill when heading into recess.)
Left-leaning groups will continue to hold events, rallies, and sit-ins across the country during the remainder of the week.
Activists
associated with the Health Care for America Now coalition are gathering
Thursday, for example, on the Williamstown Bridge that connects Ohio
and West Virginia to target two senators from the two different states
-- Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West
Virginia. The two senators announced their opposition in a joint
statement last week after the Senate decided to delay its vote.
Portman's
office sent out photos of the senator meeting with constituents during
the recess, as well as a description of his efforts on health care.
"In
his discussions with his colleagues, Rob is working to ensure that
those on expanded Medicaid continue to have good health care options
under a new system, whether it's under the current Medicaid structure or
affordable health care options on the private market," Portman
spokeswoman Emily Benavides wrote in a statement.
There's still time for activists and voters alike to see at least a few of their senators before they head back to Washington.
Sen.
Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, is hosting three town-hall style events at the
end of the week, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, is hosting a town
hall specifically on health care on Friday. Both senators expressed
serious reservations about the bill before recess.
Fighting
back against the attacks, many Republicans have been pointing to the
Democrats, asking for more cooperation in the health care battle. The
Republican National Committee release a web video Wednesday arguing that Democrats have refused to come up with their own plan to fix Obamacare.
Democratic
senators last week retorted saying Republican leaders in the Senate
never solicited Democratic input during the behind-the-scenes crafting
of the bill.
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