Rep. Raul Ruiz expresses opposition to Senate health care bill
Congressman Raul Ruiz expressed his opposition to the Senate health care bill aimed at overhauling the Affordable Care Act. This comes amid discussion and debate among Senate Republicans.
Ruiz called the bill “cruel and deadly” at an news conference in front of Capitol in Washington D.C. and reiterated those remarks in a sit down interview.
“As a doctor, I’m completely anxious about this,” Rep. Ruiz said. As a policy maker, I am disgusted by this harsh, mean, cruel, deadly, policy. And as a human, I’m nervous.”
Some Senate Republicans have expressed reservation over the health care bill and at last five have come out opposing parts of it, including Senator Susan Collins of Maine who opposed the defunding of Planned Parenthood.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has already called for a vote before the July 4th recess in Congress. With Democrats so far united in opposing the bill, the Kentucky senator can only afford to lose two votes and still pass the bill.
The Trump Administration though was optimistic the party would come together as pass the bill.
“We’re confident that the Senate bill will get through and we’ll have health care reform that takes away these draconian Obamacare taxes,” Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to President Trump, said.
The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office could issue its report as early as Monday on the Senate health care bill. The CBO already reported that the House bill, which the Senate bill shares similarities with, would leave 23 million more Americans uninsured than if the ACA were to remain in place.
