WH: Statement by President Donald J. Trump on the Senate Supporting the Motion to Proceed on Healthcare
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 7/ 25/ 17
I applaud the Senate for taking a giant step to end the Obamacare nightmare. As this vote shows, inaction is not an option, and now the legislative process can move forward as intended to produce a bill that lowers costs and increases options for all Americans. The Senate must now pass a bill and get it to my desk so we can finally end the Obamacare disaster once and for all.--President Trump
Editorial Comment: Looks like Obama Care will be a thing of the pass, from what I gathered by the press releases which were issued yesterday. The following are reactions from our congressional, and state leaders over the vote taken yesterday.
Cantwell Statement on Vote to Proceed to ACA Repeal
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 7/ 26/ 17
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released the following statement after Senate Republicans narrowly prevailed in a procedural vote to move forward on their plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
“Since January, I have been repeating the same message to my Republican colleagues: don’t kick millions of Americans off of health care and instead come work with us to fix the individual market and improve the Affordable Care Act. Today’s motion to proceed formally declares a war on Medicaid, and is a key step in taking health care away from millions of Americans. I will continue to use every tool at my disposal to protect health care for Washingtonians.”
TWEETS FROM MURRAY
On Sen. Murray's twitter account this was her reaction: "Let’s work together to improve families’ health care like so many of us truly want to do." also this post on Twitter: " There is a way to get this done right—and it is to stop what Senate Republican leaders are doing right now—and start over."
https://twitter.com/PattyMurray/status/890224166976335872
Following yesterday’s vote on Senate Republicans’ rushed, damaging version of Trumpcare, Sen. Murray urges open hearings, return to regular order to fix nation’s health care system
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 7/ 26/ 17
Washington, D.C.) – On the heels of Senate Republicans’ vote to begin debate on their partisan Trumpcare plan, today Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), top Democrat on the Senate health committee, took to the Senate floor to urge Republicans to stop trying to jam through their failed Trumpcare plan that would gut Medicaid, put insurance companies back in charge of peoples’ care, and more, and instead work with Democrats on real solutions to fix our health care system.
Full text of Sen. Murray’s floor speech:
M. President, I hope that all Senators in this chamber took the time to listen to the very wise words from the Senator from Virginia on the fact that we are facing real issues in this country…
…and that when we work together and go through the regular process of committee hearings and no secret negotiations and back-room deals, that we can lead this country in the way it should be led.
And I thank him for coming out on the floor and reminding us that that is how we get things done in a way that America accepts it.
But we’re not here having had committee hearings, or process, or anything.
We are here because of back-room deals that have brought us to this floor in a time that no one can accept the fact that all the proposals are a result, so far, of how many millions of people will lose insurance.
22 million, 15 million, 24 million—that’s what we’re drafting here, and that’s a terrible debate.
That’s not what we should be talking about, but that is the proposal we’re being offered.
And again, Democrats are here and we are not giving up, and we are going to fight any effort to pass Trumpcare until the last possible moment—because that will be the result.
We are going to speak out for families nationwide—children, parents, patients, those with disabilities, seniors—people who’ve called, tweeted, marched—so many who are worried and frankly scared right now.
Families who are being kept in the dark by my Republican colleagues…
And are being left to wonder what might happen to their health care, their financial security, and even their lives.
M. President, it is appalling that the majority of Republicans were willing to go along with this plan and move to begin debate, without even knowing what bill they would be debating.
But, last night, the vast majority of the Senate did something unusual—it showed just how much agreement there actually could be among us.
Fifty-seven Republicans and Democrats agreed to reject a full Trumpcare replacement bill…
And sent a message that we agree with Senator McCain that we should stop letting the “bombastic loudmouths” drive our work…
And instead, return to regular order and get back to work on policies that actually help the people we are here to represent.
M. President, I know there are responsible Republicans who disagree with the way Republican leaders have hidden their legislation from Democrats and the public throughout this process…
Who think that there should be an open, transparent process with both sides at the table…
And who want hearings and public debate rather than backroom deals and secret negotiations.
Well, I do as well. And I know many of my Democratic colleagues agree.
So now that it’s clear there is no absolutely path to full Trumpcare here—what is the reason for continuing this damaging, rushed, deeply partisan effort to jam just any bill through the Senate?
Together we can do much better than a rushed, lowest-common denominator bill that simply sends Trumpcare to conference with the House and gives the Freedom Caucus a blank check to gut Medicaid, put insurance companies back in charge of peoples’ care, and more.
Because let’s be clear—the only reason to pass a bill cobbled together last-minute on the floor is to keep the extreme conservative dream of repealing Trumpcare alive…
No matter what that means for patients and families.
I truly believe there is a way to get this done right—and it is to stop what Senate Republican leaders are doing right now—and start over.
So once again, I’m going to ask my Republican colleagues to drop this partisan effort and join us at the table.
Let’s work together to improve families’ health care like so many of us truly want to do.
My door is open, and I’m ready to get started.
Thank you and I yield the floor.
On the State level reactions...
Inslee statement on today’s health care vote in the United States Senate
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 7/ 25/ 17
“It’s inconceivable that any of our nation’s leaders think our health care system will be improved by ripping away health care from 22 million Americans and vastly increasing the costs for millions more.
“President Trump promised Americans he would improve our health care system. He promised he would not cut Medicaid, and that his plan would make health care more accessible and more affordable. Trumpcare doesn’t deliver on a single one of those promises. In fact it exacerbates each of them.
“This isn’t about repeal, or repeal and replace. Republican congressional leaders and President Trump want to instead repeal and redirect this funding to an enormous tax break for the wealthiest Americans.
“The Senate bill is being written entirely in secret. Not even Republican senators know what they will be voting on today. But we know that every proposal put forward in the Senate has been just as bad or worse for our state than the bad bill passed by the House in May.
“I urge every senator to reject this cruel measure. And I encourage all Washingtonians to continue contacting their representatives in Congress to tell them to pursue real bipartisan solutions that protect and build upon our state’s progress improving health care access, quality and affordability. And finally, I want to thank Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell for their hard work defending the people of Washington.”
According to Washington state agencies, the Republican Better Care Reconciliation Act that will form the basis of whatever the U.S. Senate will ultimately consider would kick more than 700,000 Washingtonians out of health coverage. It would more than double the number of uninsured children in the state, cut services for 1 in every 4 people with long-term care and developmental disabilities needs, and cost Washington state over $4 billion a year. Read the letter from Governor Inslee and Insurance Commissioner Kreidler to the Washington State Congressional Delegation here.
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