Health bill facing opposition
Depp at Glastonbury talks Trump, actors and assassinations
Senate Republicans in the United States yesterday unveiled legislation that would replace Obamacare with a plan that scales back aid to the poor and kills a tax on the wealthy, but the bill’s fate was quickly thrown into question as several senators voiced scepticism.
Four conservative lawmakers said they could not support it in its current form, leaving Republicans short of the votes they need for passage. Democrats are united in opposition.
The 142- page proposal, worked out in secret by a group led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, aims to deliver on a central campaign promise of President Donald Trump by rolling back former President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law, which has provided coverage to millions of Americans since it was passed in 2010.
Republicans view the law, formally known as the Affordable Care Act, as a costly government intrusion into the private marketplace.
Trump welcomed the bill but indicated that changes may be in store.
“I am very supportive of the Senate # Healthcarebill. Look forward to making it really special!” he wrote on Twitter.
Trump urged the House of Representatives to pass a similar bill in May, only to criticise it in private as “mean” once it passed. He said on Thursday that he wanted a health plan “with heart”.
Democrats immediately attacked the legislation as a callous giveaway to the rich that would leave millions without coverage.
“The President said the House bill was mean,” said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer.
“The Senate bill may be even meaner.”
Obama weighed in on Facebook. “If there’s a chance you might get sick, get old, or start a family — this bill will do you harm,” he wrote.
The Senate’s most conservative members said the plan did not do enough to scale back the US Government’s role.
“This current bill does not repeal Obamacare. It does not keep our promises to the American people,” said Senator Rand Paul. Johnny Depp has asked a crowd at the Glastonbury Festival in England when was the last time an actor assassinated a president.
The remarks came during a segment yesterday in which Depp was speaking about President Donald Trump.
He asked the question at the annual festival in Somerset that celebrates the performing arts.
The 54- year- old Pirates of the Caribbean star followed by saying that he is not an actor, but someone who lies for a living.
However, he said, it’s “been a while, and maybe it’s time”.
Actor John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Abraham Lincoln in 1865.
Those in the crowd generally responded to Depp’s comments with laughter.
One fan who spoke to the BBC afterwards was more concerned with meeting her idol than analysing his politics.
“I don’t even know what to say. I’m going to die,” said Jess Gallagher. “He reached out and touched my hand and I don’t know what to do.
“He’s an amazing actor and I’ve loved him ever since I studied him in year 11 in A- Level drama. “I can’t cope.” Depp was at the festival to introduce a screening of his 2004 film The Libertine.