Democrats try to make stand in ‘vote-a-rama’
Senate to work into wee hours as GOP attempts to kill ACA
By Kelsey Snell and Mike DeBonis
WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats made a late-night show of resistance Wednesday night against gutting the Affordable Care Act by forcing Republicans to take politically charged votes against protecting Medicare, Medicaid and other healthcare programs.
The mostly symbolic votes come amid growing concerns among congressional Republicans that the party is rushing to dismantle the ACA without a plan to replace it. Democrats planned to force the frenzied vote series called a “vote-a-rama” well into Thursday morning, even as they cannot prevent the GOP from following through on their repeal plans.
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said Wednesday that Democrats intend to ensure Republicans are held responsible for any chaos caused by ending President Barack Obama’s landmark law providing roughly 20 million people with coverage in various ways.
“Put this irresponsible and rushed repeal plan aside,” Schumer said on the Senate floor. “Work with us Democrats on a way to improve health care in America, not put chaos in place of affordable care.”
‘A tremendous favor’
In his news conference on Wednesday, President-elect Donald Trump insisted repeal would not occur without a replacement plan. “Obamacare is the Democrats’ problem. We’re going to take the problem off the shelves for them. We’re doing them a tremendous favor,” Trump said.
Senators are expected to vote Thursday morning on a budget measure — which is likely to pass — setting in motion the framework for the ACA’s repeal. The House is then expected to take up the measure on Friday, though there were signs that disparate groups of House Republicans were concerned about it.
Moderates said they may oppose the measure because they are nervous about starting the repeal without a replacement plan.
Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa., cochair of the informal caucus of moderate Republicans called the Tuesday Group, said they have “serious reservations” about starting the process without replacement plans spelled out.
And members of the House Freedom Caucus called for a fuller plan before any votes are taken — including on the preliminary budget measure.
“We just want more specifics,” said Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., the caucus chairman. “I’m willing to take a vote today if we have the specifics. So it’s not as much slow it down for slowing-it-down purposes as it is, we need to know what we’re going to replace it with.”
Blocking strategy
On Wednesday night and Thursday morning, Senate Democrats planned to try to embarrass Republican in the allnight vote series by forcing them to take tough votes on protecting mental health services and women’s access to health care. One such measure would block the Senate from passing any legislation “that would reduce or eliminate access to mental health services.” Another contains similar prohibitions against cutting funding for maternity care.
Democrats plan to track how Republicans vote — information that could be used during coming election campaigns, according to Democratic leadership aides who would not speak on the record.
The voting marathon is expected to end with a final vote instructing the House and Senate committees to begin work on legislation to render useless major portions of Obamacare.