Massive protest brings McConnell to a halt in midst of health care vote
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was interrupted by protesters in the Senate gallery as he began the process to consider the Republican Party’s unpopular and destructive health care repeal bill. The protesters repeatedly chanted “kill the bill,” “don’t kill us” and “shame,” prompting a call for the sergeant-at-arms to come in and remove them […]
The protesters repeatedly chanted “kill the bill,” “don’t kill us” and “shame,” prompting a call for the sergeant-at-arms to come in and remove them from the building. McConnell had to stop before initiating the procedural vote, due to the intensity and volume of the protest.
Protesters chant “Kill the bill! Don’t kill us!” in the Senate gallery as Senate votes on motion to proceed on health care pic.twitter.com/G4AvutgyfA
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) July 25, 2017
Capitol Hill police also told reporters that they could not record videos or take photos of the process as it occurred, in at least one instance deleting the video taken by Daily Beast reporter Andrew Desiderio.
Capitol Police made me delete the video I recorded. https://t.co/NQH2fLFYiO
— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) July 25, 2017
The press was also blocked from parts of the Senate side of the Capitol due to the protest.
Press blocked from going to the Senate side of the Capitol because of protesters (?) pic.twitter.com/Ifvqy6dZyD
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) July 25, 2017
Protesters from all over the country also loudly chanted against the bill in the Hart Senate office building, including physicians, disabled people and Medicaid enrollees.
Part of line of the ~200 physicians, activists, Medicaid enrollees entering the Capitol rn over TrumpCare.
A few dozen arrests expected pic.twitter.com/ye68Hzt2vQ
— Jeff Stein (@JStein_Vox) July 25, 2017
ADAPT protesters are flooding the Hart Senate Office Building right now. Members from Rochester, Boston, Chicago, Arkansas… —> pic.twitter.com/BvzWgveyiX
— Jeff Stein (@JStein_Vox) July 25, 2017
Wild scene as hundreds demonstrate in the Hart office building. Capitol police getting ready pic.twitter.com/fydT6wl6C8
— Jeff Stein (@JStein_Vox) July 25, 2017
Groups of Senate staffers watching from every floor pic.twitter.com/yL48dzizeO
— Jeff Stein (@JStein_WaPo) July 25, 2017
The Republican health care bill is enormously unpopular, and would strip health insurance coverage from over 20 million people, while cutting Medicaid by over $700 billion. It is completely supported by the Republican leadership, including Donald Trump, McConnell, and Speaker Paul Ryan.
McConnell struggled to get enough votes to proceed on the vote, even from his own party. Vice President Mike Pence was required to cast the tie-breaking vote to continue on to debate.
No Democrats support it.
Recommended
Biden campaign launches new ad focused on Affordable Care Act
Former President Trump has said he wants to do away with the popular health care law.
By Kim Lyons, Pennsylvania Capital-Star - May 08, 2024Ohio doctors fear effects of emergency abortion care case set to go before U.S. Supreme Court
A federal law that allows emergency departments to treat patients without regard to their ability to pay will be under U.S. Supreme Court scrutiny this week, and Ohio doctors are concerned about the case’s local impact on emergency abortion care.
By Susan Tebben, Ohio Capital Journal - April 23, 2024House GOP votes to end flu, whooping cough vaccine rules for foster and adoptive families
A bill to eliminate flu and whooping cough vaccine requirements for adoptive and foster families caring for babies and medically fragile kids is heading to the governor’s desk.
By Anita Wadhwani, Tennessee Lookout - March 26, 2024