Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
The Case Of The Hidden Draft: Senators Play Hide-And-Seek To Find GOP's Repeal Blueprint
The New York Times: G.O.P. Accused Of Playing ‘Hide-And-Seek’ With Obamacare Replacement Bill
It was “find the Affordable Care Act replacement” day on Thursday as publicity-seeking Democrats — and one frustrated Republican — scampered through Capitol corridors, hunting for an elusive copy of a bill that Republican leaders have withheld from the public as they search for party unity. Just a week before two powerful House committees plan to vote on the measure, opponents spent hours making the point that almost no one has actually seen legislation that would affect the lives and pocketbooks of millions of Americans. (Pear, 3/2)
The Associated Press: GOP, Dem Foes Of Health Care Bill In Scavenger Hunt For Copy
Where’s the Republicans’ embryonic health care bill? A maverick GOP senator and top Democrats staged made-for-TV scavenger hunts across the Capitol on Thursday for a draft of the measure, momentarily overshadowing months of labor by Republicans out to reshape the nation’s health care system. Their goal: embarrass Republican leaders who have vowed to make the overhaul transparent and are struggling to solidify support. (Fram, 3/3)
The Washington Post: Rand Paul, A Copy Machine And A ‘Secret’ Obamacare Bill
The story of Rand Paul and the copy machine starts with a seemingly benign meeting. Paul got word that the members of a House Energy and Commerce Committee were gathering to talk about the legislation, as committee members with jurisdiction over health care sometimes do. Paul marched over from the Senate to the House side — a good quarter-mile walk, depending on where you start — to bang on the door and demand that his colleagues in the House show him the “secret” draft Obamacare bill. Never one to miss a posturing opportunity, Paul sent nearly a dozen tweets on his march over, ensuring that cameras and tweeting reporters greeted him when he showed up. He even brought his own copy machine — you know, just in case. (Phillips, 3/2)
Politico: Paul Blocked From Seizing GOP Obamacare Bill
The conservative senator from Kentucky went into a House hideaway in the Capitol, claimed he was told he could not remove the bill and make it public, and then held an impromptu news conference, complaining about House Republicans' lack of transparency. “If you recall where Obamacare was passed in 2009, 2010, Nancy Pelosi said we’ll know what’s in it after we pass it. The Republican Party shouldn’t act in the same way," Paul said in a circus-like atmosphere outside the offices of House leaders. (Everett, 3/2)
NPR: Republicans Finally Get A Look At GOP's Obamacare Replacement Bill, But Dems Shut Out
U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, a Democrat from New Jersey, has been trying to get a look at the Republicans' bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. He's the top-ranking Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which will have to approve the bill before the whole House can vote on it. But as of Thursday afternoon, Pallone still couldn't get his hands on a copy. (Kodjak, 3/2)
Roll Call: Lawmakers Hunt Around The Capitol For Obamacare Repeal Bill
Joined by Rep. Jane Schakowsky, D-Ill., a fellow committee member, Pallone was told to head to the office of Energy and Commerce Chairman Greg Walden. Pallone's search was not successful. The New Jersey Democrat, who called looking for a bill he wasn't sure existed "extremely bizarre," said Americans expected such a measure to be worked out in a bipartisan manner "and that's just not the case." "It's just an outrage and I'm going to keep demanding where the bill is," Pallone said. (Rahman, 3/2)
The Hill: Rand Paul Creates Storm Over Access To ObamaCare Draft Bill
Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, pushed back on accusations that the process is being kept secret. “Reports that the Energy and Commerce Committee is doing anything other than the regular process of keeping its members up to speed on latest developments in its jurisdictions are false. We are continuing to work on drafting and refining legislative language to provide relief from a failing law," Walden said in as statement. (Hellmann and Sullivan, 3/2)
Bloomberg: ‘Secret’ Obamacare Plan Leads Lawmakers On Hunt Across Capitol
The sought-after draft bill is the part of the Republican health care effort being written by the Energy and Commerce Committee, with the Ways and Means panel putting together another chunk. Energy and Commerce Chairman Greg Walden of Oregon insisted in a statement that it was "false" to contend that the committee was "doing anything other than the regular process" of refining the bill to make it ready for committee debate. (House, Edney and John, 3/2)
Modern Healthcare: Lawmakers Play A Game Of Hide And Seek With ACA Repeal Bill
Ryan's bill reportedly was being shown privately to GOP lawmakers without distributing copies to avoid leaks, something that's been a problem for the Trump administration. Lawmakers often avoid sharing too many details of draft bills as they make final deals to gain support for their legislation. (Dickson, 3/2)
The Hill: GOP Takes Heat For ObamaCare Secrecy
House Republicans are coming under growing pressure to release their ObamaCare repeal and replace plan ahead of committee markups that could begin next week. Even some Republican lawmakers are criticizing their party for the lack of access to the House Energy and Commerce Committee's draft bill, which is apparently being kept in a designated room in the Capitol where entry is limited to certain members. (Sullivan, 3/3)
CQ Roll Call: Health Bill Details Emerge Amid Controversy Over Secret Draft
The latest House Republican plan to replace parts of the 2010 health care law still includes several controversial policies, like advanceable tax credits and a cap on the tax breaks that employers get for providing insurance to their workers, according to lawmakers who were briefed on it Thursday. It also includes provisions to let states keep some Medicaid expansion funding, they said. House Republicans received a broad briefing on the plan at their conference meeting Thursday morning, and the Ways and Means Committee separately met later to discuss the plan. Both the Ways and Means and the Energy and Commerce committees plan to mark up the legislation next week, several lawmakers said, although neither panel's chairman confirmed that timeline. (Mershon and Williams, 3/2)
