Schumer: ‘Reckless’ to vote on ObamaCare repeal without budget score

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) blasted House Republicans on Wednesday for moving forward with a plan to replace the Affordable Care Act without details on how it will impact the budget and insurance coverage. 

 

“It’s reckless for Republicans to make Congress vote on this mess of a plan before we have those answers from the CBO,” Schumer said. 

 

Both the Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means committees are marking up their replacement proposal on Wednesday — before the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) examines its costs.

 

{mosads}Schumer argued that Republicans are rushing the replacement proposal — which Democrats have termed “TrumpCare” — because they believe the CBO score will make it harder for lawmakers to support the legislation. 

“I believe the Congressional Budget Office, when they score it, they will ultimately show America everything America needs to know, how this bill would likely hurt overall coverage numbers and affordability and at the same time explode the deficit,” he said. 

His comments come after House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) pressed Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) to delay the House replacement bill until the CBO could offer its analysis of the legislation. 

A GOP aide defended the timeline on Tuesday, saying it’s not uncommon for committees to mark up proposals — including healthcare bills — before the CBO has weighed in.

Wednesday’s markups come as the House plan is drawing fire from conservative lawmakers and outside groups that argue it needs to go further. 

No Democrats are expected to support the repeal measure, which will need 51 votes to clear the Senate.