Letter: Don’t let Senate pass secretive health bill

Editor:

​While the news is consumed with covering Russian interference in our election, a special Senate committee is surreptitiously writing its version of "Trumpcare" behind closed doors.

The House passed its version, which cuts taxes on the richest while kicking millions of the less fortunate completely off coverage. Even President Donald Trump called it "mean, mean, mean." There's simply no way to increase coverage while lowering premiums without cutting the profits of health insurance companies. That's not happening.

In 2009, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said, "fast-tracking a major legislative overhaul such as health care reform ("Obamacare") without the benefit of a full and transparent debate does a disservice to the American people."

Obamacare was debated more than a year, with hearings and amendments, including by Republicans.

The House's Trumpcare version was presented and voted on in 24 hours. Now this Senate committee is expected to submit its bill the same way. No debate. No amendments. And certainly no time for news coverage to inform the public. Republicans are expected to vote for whatever it says, promptly. "We'll let you see the bill when we finally release it," McConnell told reporters. He completely flip-flopped. Sen. Pat Toomey is on the committee writing this secret bill, so it is obvious which side he cares about.

Susan Shaak
St. Lawrence
Don't let Senate pass secretive health bill