WA Sen. PATTY MURRAY leads Dems in protest on Senate floor [View all]

[pnwmom]

http://www.newsweek.com/health-care-bill-democratic-party-hold-floor-obamacare-senate-627509

Leading Senate Democrats held the floor overnight Monday in protest at what they see as secretive Republican efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Senators Elizabeth Warren, Tim Kaine and Al Franken, along with independent Senator Bernie Sanders and other Democrats, gave speeches calling for the act, also known as Obamacare, to remain in law. They also demanded that Republicans hold a public hearing about the proposed replacement health care bill.

The speeches, organized by Washington Senator Patty Murray, were part of a wider campaign by the Democrats to try and force the Republicans to bring their bill before an open committee. Politico reported that the party will begin objecting to unanimous consent requests in the Senate and may block committee hearings scheduled for Tuesday. By holding up other Senate business, they hope to force the Republican Party’s hand on health care.

The protest happened four days after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote to the majority leader, Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, calling for an all-senators meeting to discuss health care. Quoted in Politico, Schumer said that, “Republicans are drafting this bill in secret because they're ashamed of it, plain and simple.” Speaking about the Democrats’ plans to hold the floor, Schumer added: “If Republicans won't relent and debate their health care bill in the open for the American people to see, then they shouldn't expect business as usual in the Senate.”

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