Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Democrats Protest Repeal Efforts: 'We Cannot Allow Republicans To Make America Sick Again'
Roll Call: Senate Democrats Use The Floor And Facebook To Protest Obamacare Repeal
Senate Democrats launched the first of what will likely be numerous efforts to derail Republican plans to repeal the 2010 health care law, taking to the Senate floor and social media Monday night in a talk-a-thon to portray the move as reckless and chaotic for the health care system. “I think the point is to send a clear message to the country, to the American people that, No. 1, we’re going to do everything we can to prevent Senate Republicans from destroying the Affordable Care Act,” Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen said. “We’re focused on making sure that we get on the Senate floor and talk about the damaging consequences and the chaos that’s going to be created throughout the health care system.” (Bowman and Lesniewski, 1/9)
The Hill: Senate Dems End ObamaCare Repeal Protest After 5 Hours
Senate Democrats ceded back the Senate floor early Tuesday morning, ending a more than 5-hour protest of GOP efforts to repeal ObamaCare. Democrats painted the late-night talkathon as the first test against a unified Republican-led government as the majority party works to nix the healthcare law without a replacement plan. (Carney, 1/10)
CQ Roll Call: Democrats' Budget Talkathon Aims To Slow Health Care Repeal
Senate Democrats Monday night spent nearly six hours delivering floor speeches criticizing Republican efforts to repeal the health care law. Starting around 6:40 p.m. and wrapping up at 12:17 a.m., the talkathon provided another opportunity for Democrats to object to Republican attempts to repeal the 2010 health care law, even as some House Republicans discussed postponing a planned vote. It also provided senators with a chance to tell stories about their own health care experiences as well as those of their constituents. One of the more personal speeches came from Sen. Angus King, a Maine independent, who spoke about being diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer, in 1974 while working for the U.S. Senate as a staff member. (Shutt and McCrimmon, 1/9)
The Hill: Sanders: GOP ‘Damn Well’ Needs ObamaCare Replacement
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) says Republicans cannot repeal ObamaCare without having an alternative first. “I’m going to do everything I can – and I believe I speak for virtually every member of the Democratic Caucus – that we’re going to do everything we can to improve the Affordable Care Act [ACA],” he said during a CNN town hall at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., on Monday. "It has problems.” (Hensch, 1/9)
The Hill: Schumer Flubs Dems’ ObamaCare Protest Slogan
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) tweeted the wrong slogan Monday evening, while promoting his party’s protest against repealing ObamaCare. The tweet was quickly deleted and replaced, but not before Independent Journal Review reporter Joe Perticone snagged a screenshot. “Now deleted,” Perticone tweeted of Schumer’s gaffe. "Chuck Schumer accidentally tweeted ‘Don’t Make America Great Again.’” (Hensch, 1/9)
CNN: How The Tables Are Turning On Obamacare
Republicans warned seven years ago that a health care law passed only by Democrats -- with no support from the other party -- would struggle to survive. The party-line vote to pass Obamacare, they said, was arrogant and reckless. Now, the GOP is in charge, and poised to run afoul of its own warnings. (Lee, 1/9)
