Schumer Attempts to Force Vote in Senate to Consider Health Care Bill

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer attempted today to put Senate Republicans on the record before the November election as voting against a bill that would protect Obamacare.

Interesting. If Schumer effectively forces GOP senators to vote on sitting by as the Trump DOJ tries to kill the ACA, well, that might not be great for certain vulnerable Rs.

Interesting. If Schumer effectively forces GOP senators to vote on sitting by as the Trump DOJ tries to kill the ACA, well, that might not be great for certain vulnerable Rs. https://t.co/EOiCvMvNKj

— The Hoarse Whisperer (@TheRealHoarse) September 29, 2020

Schumer appeared on The View earlier today and told Joy Behar that “the hard right, which dominates Mitch McConnell and the Republican party could never get these things done through the elected parts of government.”

In a tweet, he claimed, “Make no mistake: A vote by any Senator for Judge Barrett is a vote to take away health care and eliminate protections for millions with pre-existing conditions. Democrats are fighting for Americans’ health care.”

Make no mistake: A vote by any Senator for Judge Barrett is a vote to take away health care and eliminate protections for millions with pre-existing conditions.

Democrats are fighting for Americans’ health care. pic.twitter.com/Ilz0DUEmZH

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) September 29, 2020

From The Hill:

Schumer, from the Senate floor, took procedural steps to bring up a bill that would ban the Department of Justice (DOJ) from advocating for courts to strike down the Affordable Care Act. The DOJ is doing just that in a case that’s set to be heard by the Supreme Court on Nov. 10.

Democrats argue that if Judge Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed to fill the seat left vacant by the Sept. 18 death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, it will be more likely that the Supreme Court strikes down the Obama-era healthcare bill.

Schumer’s move caught Republican leaders by surprise. A Schumer aide confirmed that the Democratic leader’s maneuvering will make the Democratic bill next up on the Senate’s floor schedule once they pass a continuing resolution Wednesday to fund the government beyond Sept. 30 and avoid a government shutdown.

Under the Senate’s rules a vote related to the Democratic bill could take place as soon as Thursday. Democrats will need 60 votes to move forward, something they are all but guaranteed to fall short of, but it will allow them to try to squeeze Republicans on health care.

Typically in the Senate, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) controls what votes get brought up for action on the floor.

Asked when the last time a member of the minority party moved to force a vote, Sen. John Thune (S.D.), the No. 2 Republican senator, said he was told it happened roughly 10 years ago.