Chuck Schumer likens Republicans' repeal plan to 'proposing a second surgery that will surely kill the patient'
On Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) delivered an extended health-care analogy to warn Republicans against passing an ObamaCare repeal bill without a ready replacement. The repeal now, replace later strategy is Senate Republicans' plan B after it became apparent Monday night that their plan to repeal and replace ObamaCare at once did not have enough support to move forward.
"It's like if our health-care system was a patient, who came in and needed some medicine. The Republicans proposed surgery. The operation was a failure," Schumer said Tuesday, describing Republicans' botched efforts to pass the Better Care Reconciliation Act, their proposal to repeal and replace ObamaCare. "Now Republicans are proposing a second surgery that will surely kill the patient. Medicine is needed — bipartisan medicine — not a second surgery," he went on, suggesting the Senate should work toward improving ObamaCare rather than disassembling it without a replacement in hand.
Schumer then whipped out a lengthy list of Republicans who had said just a few months ago that repealing now and replacing later simply would not work. He read each of the Republicans' names aloud. "I would tell those colleagues and all the others, the idea hasn't magically gotten better with age," Schumer said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Schumer warned that moving forward with the repeal plan would "hurt" everyone except "the very, very wealthy" and cause our health-care system to "implode." Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.) has already released a statement indicating she would not vote for a repeal-only bill because of the effect it would have on residents of her state who rely on Medicaid.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Magazine interactive crossword - May 3, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 3, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine solutions - May 3, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 3, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - May 3, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 3, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Empty-nest boomers aren't selling their big homes
Speed Read Most Americans 60 and older do not intend to move, according to a recent survey
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Brazil accuses Musk of 'disinformation campaign'
Speed Read A Brazilian Supreme Court judge has opened an inquiry into Elon Musk and X
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney board fends off Peltz infiltration bid
Speed Read Disney CEO Bob Iger has defeated activist investor Nelson Peltz in a contentious proxy battle
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney and DeSantis reach detente
Speed Read The Florida governor and Disney settle a yearslong litigation over control of the tourism district
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Visa and Mastercard agree to lower swipe fees
Speed Read The companies will cap the fees they charge businesses when customers use their credit cards
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Reddit IPO values social media site at $6.4 billion
Speed Read The company makes its public debut on the New York Stock Exchange
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Housing costs: the root of US economic malaise?
speed read Many voters are troubled by the housing affordability crisis
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Feds cap credit card late fees at $8
speed read The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized a rule to save households an estimated $10 billion a year
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published