Rand Paul calls to slow down ‘rushed’ ObamaCare repeal process

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) wants to slow down how quickly legislation can get a vote as Republicans prepare to bring their bill to repeal and replace ObamaCare to the Senate floor next week.

 

Paul has reintroduced his “Read the Bills” resolution requiring that any bills or amendments be filed for at least one day for every 20 pages before they can be brought up on the floor.

 

“Legislation is too often shoved through Congress without proper hearings, amendments, or debate, as the secrecy surrounding the Senate’s health care bill and the pressure to vote for it with little time to fully evaluate the proposal once again remind us,” Paul said in a statement.

 

He added, “If we are to answer to the American people, it is imperative we pay close attention to the legislation we pass.”

 

{mosads}It’s unlikely the Senate would vote on Paul’s bill before it takes up legislation to repeal and replace ObamaCare, which is expected to get a vote next week.

 

The Senate healthcare legislation, which has yet to be released, is expected to be attached to the House-passed repeal-and-replacement bill, which was 130 pages. 

Pressed if he thought he would have enough time to review the bill, Paul called it a “big question.”

“Healthcare is such an important thing. I think we should have debated it in open, in committee hearings, have both sides bring in witnesses,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

Paul’s legislation, which previously failed to gain traction when it was first introduced, comes as several GOP senators raise concerns about their own party’s closed-door process for drafting its healthcare bill. 

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) also posted a video to Facebook saying the GOP bill should have been released “weeks ago” if it was going to be voted on next week. 

“Even though I’ve been a member of this working group among Senate Republicans assigned to help narrow some of the focus of this, I haven’t seen the bill,” Lee said on Tuesday. 

Republicans want to vote on the bill before they go home for the July 4 holiday recess, which would let them use July to merge their proposal with the House’s if it passes or move on to other policy issues if it fails. 

But they have a narrow path to getting their legislation through the Senate. Republicans have 52 seats, meaning they can lose two GOP senators and still let Vice President Pence cast a tie-breaking vote.