Senate

Sanders: GOP healthcare bill ‘barbaric and immoral’

by Jordain Carney - 06/26/17 9:02 PM ET

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) ripped the GOP proposal to repeal and replace ObamaCare on Monday night, after the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that an extra 22 million people would become uninsured over the next decade.

“I know this is a very sensitive issue, but I’m going to raise it, and that is that the horrible and unspeakable truth is that if this legislation were to pass … many thousands of our fellow Americans every single year will die, and many more will suffer and become much sicker than they should,” Sanders said from the Senate floor.

He added that the legislation, which was unveiled late last week, is “barbaric and immoral.”

{mosads}Sanders’s comments were part of a Democratic protest from the Senate floor on Monday night ahead of a vote on the GOP proposal, which leadership wants to take up before the July Fourth recess.

Another group of Senate Democrats sat on the steps outside the Capitol, streaming their comments about the bill live on social media.

In addition to predicting that an additional 22 million would become uninsured by 2026, the CBO analysis also found that lower financial assistance would make premiums unaffordable for many low-income people.

Sanders added on Monday night that the GOP bill “must be defeated” and “is not worthy of a great nation.”

“The Congressional Budget Office analysis … gives us 22 million reasons why this legislation should not see the light of day,” he said.

GOP leadership has a narrow path to passing its bill. Republicans have 52 seats, meaning they can only lose two GOP senators and still rely on Vice President Pence break a tie.

So far, four GOP senators have said they will vote against proceeding to the House-passed bill that is being used a vehicle for the Senate’s legislation — enough support to kill the measure unless further changes are made. Several other GOP senators signaled on Monday that they were undecided.

No Democrats are expected to support the Republican legislation.

Tags Bernie Sanders