SPEAKING OUT

Senate Democrats Hold Talkathon to Protest GOP Health Plan

Rail against secrecy surrounding bill that would deprive millions of coverage.

Senate Democrats spent more than six hours protesting the Republican plan to repeal and replace Obamacare on Monday night. In a talkathon on the Senate floor, Democrats railed against what they described as GOP attempts to draft the health-care insurance overhaul in secret without any public discussion of legislation that would deprive at least 23 million people of health coverage. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wants to put the bill to a vote by the July 4 recess. Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate, said the secrecy represents the “most glaring departure from normal legislative procedure that I have ever seen.” Sen. Elizabeth Warren described it as “shameful” proof of Republican priorities. “Tax cuts for a handful of millionaires and billionaires are more important than health care for millions of hardworking Americans and their families,” Warren said.