Dems ‘crank up outrage’ on health bill

Campaign aimed at pressuring GOP over Senate recess

USA TODAY WASHINGTON Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s decision to delay a vote on a GOP health care plan is giving Democrats a big opportunity to seize the July 4 recess to dial up the pressure to kill the bill.

Several outside progressive groups are planning campaigns over the congressional recess to highlight the stories of Americans who could lose health care — and targeting vulnerable Republican senators with paid media, phone calls and protests.

“It’s time to crank up the outrage and tell all Senators to vote NO” on the Senate bill, said Paola Mendoza, a national organizer for the Women’s March, which has created a new hashtag on Twitter highlighting personal stories titled #HowTheACASavedMyLife.

While McConnell conceded Republicans’ goal to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act would not happen before members of Congress left town Friday, the bill is not dead. Yet it’s in significant peril as McConnell works to bridge deep differences among moderate and conservatives in his party.

A report last week by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office showing up to 22 million Americans would lose their health care under the GOP plan is fueling resistance to the bill. The Senate Republican plan would roll back Medicaid expansion under the law popularly known as Obamacare while offering smaller subsidies to those who buy insurance on the individual market.

Democrats say the recess is critical to ensuring that Republican leaders fail in cutting a deal within their conference. “Republican leaders have made clear they are delaying the vote specifically to get squishy senators like Shelley Moore Capito to vote yes for Medicaid cuts, and we must not allow a bait and switch,” said Progressive Change Campaign Committee co-founder Adam Green.

Activities focused on vulnerable Republican senators will include sit-ins outside lawmaker district offices by disabled protesters; paid television media targeting members; and social media campaigns.