Schumer Floor Remarks on the Republican Healthcare Bill, President Trump’s Continued Public Criticism of AG Sessions and the Russia Sanctions Bill
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Schumer Floor Remarks on the Republican Healthcare Bill,
Now as the
Last night, the Senate Republican TrumpCare bill, after months of backroom negotiating and provisions aimed at all kinds of individual states and members, died, with 9
Later today, we'll vote on a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act without replacing it. I know that you Mr. President have championed that bill. Based on the public comments and public criticism from the other side of the aisle, repeal without replace will fail as well.
It's becoming clearer that, in the end, the Majority Leader might push a much-scaled back version of repeal in the hopes of passing something - so-called "skinny repeal" - just to get to conference.
But my colleagues, make no mistake about it: "skinny repeal" is equal to full repeal. It's a Trojan Horse designed to get the
They'll demand all the things - deep cuts to Medicaid, generous tax breaks for the wealthy, elimination of pre-existing conditions, slashing the kinds of things that people need for nursing homes, opioid treatment, and disabled kids - that many of my
So, there is no such thing as "skinny" repeal; it's a ruse to get to full repeal, with all the concomitant cuts to Medicaid and tax breaks, which are so unpopular and which so many of my Republican colleagues here on the other side have opposed.
It is clear that House and
You can imagine a conference that turns into an endless game of hot-potato. The Republican Leader in the
And of course, it's likely that a conference would probably produce no agreement at all, keeping the incredibly toxic and unpopular TrumpCare bill the topic of conversation for another three months, stalling the legislative agenda for another three months, and in the end, getting nothing done.
My Republican colleagues should consider that. Many of them want to work with us on so many issues. Above all NDAA, which my dear, dear friend
My Republican colleagues should consider that carefully, carefully.
We
So the bottom line is simple. I would say to my Republican colleagues, when you find yourself in a hole, the first rule is stop digging. By continuing this process -- trying to send something, anything to conference with the
We can work to improve our nation's healthcare system - but
And one more thing I'd add. I heard my friend the Republican Leader say, well we're going to have a full amendment process. He's trying to convince the folks on the other side that oh we'll do a bunch of amendments and then we have no choice. We'll have to send something to conference because we couldn't get anything major done. That is a lot of bunk. We have had no hearings. We have had no amendments. We have had no bipartisan discussions, and we won't even be able to have debate on many amendments on one of the most major bills affecting us, that affects tens of millions of people's health and effects one-sixth of the economy. So don't fall for this, 'oh we're having a full process'.
I like my friend the Republican Leader. We get along well, but sometimes he says things, when I hear them I get a little twit in the stomach. "We've had a full and open amendment process." He said it three or four times. Everyone in this chamber knows that's not the case. Everyone in this chamber knows that's not the case. And don't be deluded into thinking well we tried. We haven't tried until we go back to regular order.
Now on another matter, Mr. President.
Now I heard
We are already far beyond the dangers of a "chilling" effect at the
It seems clear the President's intention is to make life unbearable for the Attorney General, hoping to prompt his resignation.
All Americans should be wondering: why is the President publicly, publicly demeaning and humiliating such a close friend and supporter, a member of his own cabinet" They should wonder if the President is trying to pry open the office of Attorney General to appoint someone during the August recess who will fire Special Counsel Mueller and shut down the
Let me say, if such a situation arises,
And second, I can't imagine my friends on the Republican side and particularly my friends in Republican Leadership - the Majority Leader and Speaker Ryan - I can't imagine that they would be complicit in creating a constitutional crisis. They must work with us and not open the door to a constitutional crisis during the August recess.
And one final point. I know my colleagues are waiting. Sanctions. Finally, a word on them. Yesterday the
The
Earlier today, I understand the Chairman of the
Even as we debate other items here on the floor, we should not delay this legislation any longer. I will work with the Majority Leader to schedule another vote on the sanctions bill so that we can send the legislation to the President's desk before the recess.
And I expect the vote will constitute a veto-proof majority, just like the vote in the House.
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