Sanders: Throwing 23 million off healthcare is ‘beyond obscene’

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) ripped Republicans on Thursday for not holding public hearings on their efforts to repeal and replace ObamaCare, saying the GOP needs to find the “courage” to listen to Americans.

“They haven’t had the courage to hold one hearing in the United States Senate to hear from doctors, to hear from hospitals, to hear from insurance companies,” Sanders said on MSNBC. “Put it out on the table. Have hearings. Let’s see how we can go forward together to improve the Affordable Care Act, not throw 22, 23 million people off of health insurance.”

Sanders warned of the dire consequences that would occur if 23 million Americans lost health insurance. 

{mosads}”Up to 28,000 people die each year if you throw 23 million people off health insurance to give $500 billion in tax breaks to the richest 2 percent, insurance companies and drug companies,” Sanders warned. “That is beyond obscene, and that is something that cannot be allowed to pass.”

Over the weekend, Sanders headlined “Don’t Take Our Health Care” rallies for MoveOn.org in three states. In his speeches, Sanders ripped the GOP effort to repeal ObamaCare as a massive transfer of wealth to the upper class.

“Plain and simple, this so-called healthcare bill is a massive transfer of wealth from working families to the very very rich,” Sanders said to cheers during the rally.