There is some hope at the end of the tunnel. Chuck Schumer told Rachel Maddow that Republicans are having trouble getting to 50 votes because they are ashamed of their health care bill. They know deep down that their bill, which will take away health care from the and give a tax cut to the rich, is indefensible. And what’s more, even President Trump agrees. He called the House bill “mean” in private to Senators. If Donald Trump, a man who has spent his whole life stiffing contractors, thinks a bill is “mean,” you have a problem.
Call Rob Portman at his Washington, D.C office at 202-224-3353 and ask for Sarah Schmidt. She is the senior staffer advising Portman on health care. Tell her, and by extension Rob Portman, your concerns about Trumpcare. Ask what she will be doing to make the House bill less “mean.” You can also email her at sarah_schmidt@portman.senate.gov.
It is not just the Republicans who need calling. Our Democratic senator, Sherrod Brown, should also be reminded of his obligation to the people of Ohio. Since the Republicans are committed to carrying out their bill in secret and without public scrutiny, the Democrats should grind the Senate to a halt. This is totally within their power by using a parliamentary trick called “withholding consent” (for an explainer, see this guide). This would stop the Senate in their tracks, and force the Republicans to have a public debate about their bill that the people require.
Call Sherrod Brown at his Washington, D.C. office at 202-224-2315 and ask for Abby Duggan. She is the senior staffer advising Brown on health care. Tell her, and by extension Sherrod Brown, that Sherrod Brown and the other Democrats need to withhold consent until the health care bill is revealed in public. You can also email her at abigail_duggan@brown.senate.gov.
Don’t call Rob Portman or Sherrod Brown if you don’t live in Ohio.
Indivisible Ohio 5 