That seems to be Senate Leadership’s take on Trumpcare. After the all-male senate team spent weeks secretly drafting their own version of Trumpcare, Republican Senate leaders are reportedly pushing for a health care vote before their Fourth of July recess.
Why the rush? “I don’t think this gets better over time,” was Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO)’s answer. In other words, even Senate Majority leadership seems to know how unpopular the GOP health care plan is. Unlike the House, the Senate will have to wait for a CBO score to vote on their version of the bill. That means in order to vote on the bill before June 30th, Senate leadership will have to get their bill to the CBO by the end of next week.
Quick refresher of what the CBO said about the House version of Trumpcare: 23 million people would lose health coverage by 2026, premiums would increase by 20 percent in 2018, and $834 billion would be cut from Medicaid over 10 years. And the Senate could make the bill even worse. The public has overwhelmingly opposed GOP efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Now it’s time for the Senate to listen. Here are the questions—on process and substance—that the senate must answer before moving forward with Trumpcare.
ACTION OF THE DAY
#SaveMedicaid. Millions of at-risk Americans, including seniors and people with disabilities, rely on Medicaid to get their health insurance. Trumpcare would devastate Medicaid. Join a national day of action to call for no cuts and no caps to save Medicaid today! All the info you need to get involved here.
WHAT’S TRENDING
This Russia Thing. Documents leaked by a federal contractor suggest that Russian hackers may have interfered much closer to election day than we previously knew. The leaker, 25-year-old Reality Winner, has been arrested and charged with leaking classified information to The Intercept. Speaking of this Russia thing… Trump will not invoke executive privilege to try to stop FBI Director James Comey from testifying in the Senate. Comey’s testimony will begin this Thursday at 10 am.
#IAmStilIn. President Trump announced last week that the United States will withdraw from the Paris Agreement. This decision is an attack on American interests and the planet—and does not represent the will of Americans. That is why the Center for American Progress has teamed up with partners to launch #IAmStillIn, a citizen petition to show that Americans will continue to act on climate and work toward the goals of the Paris Agreement—regardless of the reckless actions of the Administration. Join CAP IAmStillIn.org.
#KeepBCFree. Last week, a plan leaked showing that the Trump Administration is preparing to allow any employer to seek a moral or religious exception from the ACA’s birth control mandate. If implemented this rule could impact millions of women who rely on free contraception to plan their families’ and their own futures. Right now, the rule is with the White House Office of Management and Budget and while it’s under review they are required to take a meeting or call with anyone who asks for it. That’s where you come in: schedule a meeting with OMB to make your voice heard, contact your member of congress to say you want to keep birth control free, go to KeepBCFree.com for more actions.
Infrastructure week. It continues, despite many distractions. The Trump Administration has backed away from its pledge to spend $1 trillion to make American infrastructure great again, instead favoring vague strategies like calling on state and local governments to “maximize leverage.” The Center for American Progress’s Kevin DeGood explains why there are no shortcuts in building 21st century infrastructure.
UNDER THE RADAR
CHOICEs. This week, the House is expected to vote on the Financial CHOICE Act, which would dismantle Wall Street reform, putting consumers and the entire economy at risk. The CHOICE Act would repeal most of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which put in place critical consumer and financial stability safeguards to respond to the devastating financial crisis. Here’s why the Financial CHOICE Act is the wrong choice for the U.S. economy.
GOOD NEWS
Medicaid For All. The Nevada legislature passed a bill last week that would allow anyone in the Silver State to buy into Medicaid. If signed, Nevada will be the first state to open up the public program to all residents regardless of income or health status. The plan is similar to Medicare for all proposals, which have been supported at the federal level but that have never made much progress. All the details on Nevada’s plan here.