Americans Have Had Enough of GOP's Trumpcare Drama

Yesterday, Senate Republicans began the process to repeal (and possibly replace) the ACA – without revealing any details of what will actually be in their bill.  And now, with their last-minute addition of ‘skinny' Trumpcare, Republicans have only added to their list of struggles in passing any meaningful legislation to improve the quality and lower the costs of health care for all Americans.

NYT Editorial: The Senate's Health Care Travesty

Ignoring overwhelming public opposition to legislation that would destroy the Affordable Care Act, Senate Republicans voted on Tuesday to begin repealing that law without having any workable plan to replace it.

…

Obamacare is not collapsing, as President Trump and Republicans claim. But they're doing their best to make that happen, even as they scramble to kill it altogether.

Washington Post Op-Ed by Jennifer Rubin: A defensive vote on an offensive bill

Republicans' desperation to pass something, anything, that they can call "Obamacare repeal" and their total lack of concern for the health-care insurance that millions of Americans depend upon have never been more vivid. All Republicans but Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Susan Collins (Maine) voted to advance a bill — some kind of bill — that, from what we have seen, would dump millions off the Medicaid rolls, raise insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs for many of President Trump's voters and return millions in tax cuts to the rich.

…

The vote delayed the huge embarrassment that will await them when the Senate in all likelihood will fail to repeal and replace Obamacare.

USA TODAY Editorial: The Senate's health care sham

In 2009 and 2010, Republicans complained bitterly that a major health care overhaul was being rammed through Congress without their input … But those very same complaints are spot on when it comes to Republicans' own behavior today. Under heavy pressure from President Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the Senate voted 51-50 on Tuesday (with Vice President Pence casting the tie-breaking vote) to begin floor debate on a bill that has not been drafted. And when it is drafted, it will be in secretive Republican arm-twisting sessions.

…

It is not surprising that Republicans would keep coming up with bad bills. The process they have employed to draft and consider this major legislation is an insult to their institution, their party and the American people.

Washington Examiner: Nothing but big hurdles for Senate healthcare bill

Voting to start work on a healthcare reform bill was tough enough, but actually passing a bill in the Senate is likely to be even tougher, as it will require Republicans to overcome major hurdles, including a split within the GOP.

Vogue: Surprise! Yesterday's Dramatic Health Care Vote Meant Nothing

It's increasingly difficult to hold nihilism at bay under the sway of the Trump administration. He's reigned over this nation for just six months, but every hour seems to bring fresh drama—whether it's some Twitter gaffe or a terrifying executive order; whether he's going back on his campaign promises, or making vague assertions that he is, in fact, effectively above the law.

…

Health care matters, because every American citizen has a human body that breaks down sometimes and requires upkeep. It's an easy thing to care about. Except right now, because the constant threats are becoming meaningless, a furious storm of pointless noise, and a solid analogue to any number of fairy tales we share with children to teach them how not to behave.

Instead of cynically raising families' health costs and continuing to sabotage the marketplaces, Republicans should join Democrats to take constructive, bipartisan action to stabilize the insurance marketplaces now – before Congress leaves Washington for August.