The 13 Male Republicans Drafting the Senate Version of TrumpCare on the House’s Version

‘We Have No Interest in Playing the Games of Identity Politics’

When House Republicans passed the American Health Care Act (AHCA, TrumpCare) Thursday, the argument could be made, at least watching House Republicans and Donald Trump, that the case had been settled: ObamaCare was gone, repealed and “replaced.” 

In reality, the only cases settled that day would be the cases of beer wheeled into the White House to celebrate the “victory” of attempting to strip an estimated 24 million Americans of their healthcare coverage.

The House’s so-called victory may be short-lived, however, considering that just hours after the bill’s passing, Senate Republicans signaled they’d write their own version.

And as Americans across the country shared their thoughts and concerns about the passing of Trumpcare in the House, the 13 Republicans responsible for drafting the Senate’s plan, all male, weren’t silent either.

Below, reactions from the 13 male Senators on the potential loss of healthcare for 24 million Americans, the cutting of Medicaid by $880 billion, and the placement of Americans with pre-existing conditions into high-risk, grossly underfunded pools that would cost them thousands more annually:

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Kentucky, elected until 2020)

“Today’s vote in the House was an important step,” McConnell’s statement read. He further asserted that his constituents were now closer to “freedom” and congratulated Paul Ryan, Donald Trump and Mike Pence by name “for a job well done.”

John Cornyn (Texas, elected until 2020)

 

“Today is an important step in upholding our promise to give the American people relief,” Cornyn’s statement echoed McConnell’s. “Working alongside the Administration… will continue to be our top priority and [Trumpcare] sets us on a course to achieve that.”

John Thune (South Dakota, elected until 2022)

 

Thune called it a “critical step in delivering relief for the American people” in his statement, because “Americans deserve better.” He further asserted that he looks forward to working with his colleagues on the matter.

John Barrasso (Wyoming, Elected Until 2018)

 

While Barrasso released no official statement, in a statement on ObamaCare and previous efforts to repeal and replace it, he said that “American people are asking for our help.” He cited Ronald Reagan, who said ‘it’s better to get 80 percent of what you want rather than go over the cliff with a flag flying.’”

Lamar Alexander (Tennessee, Elected Until 2020)

 

Alexander congratulated the House’s passage of the bill, but was more cautious in his statement, advising the Senate “will take the time to get it right.” His goals moving forward include “rescuing” his constituents from ObamaCare.

Mike Enzi (Wyoming, Elected Until 2020)

Enzi appears to have made no official statement, but may be attempting to stay out of the spotlight after his homophobic remarks to school-aged children.

Orrin Hatch (Utah, Elected Until 2018)

 

Hatch seemingly made no official statement, but told Politico “it’s close to near-impossible, except we’ll get it done.” He further insisted that he’s “been at near-impossible a couple of times” and “always gets it done.”

Ted Cruz (Texas, Elected Until 2018)

 

Cruz said the bill was “an important step,” and found it encouraging that the House could “come together.” He praised the House Freedom Caucus for “[pressing] hard [to] reduce premiums.”

Mike Lee (Utah, Elected Until 2022)

 

Lee made no official statement on the bill’s passing, but of the House’s first and failed attempt at passing TrumpCare, he called for ObamaCare to be “properly sent to the dustbin of history.”

Tom Cotton (Arkansas, Elected Until 2020)

 

Cotton also refrained from an official statement, but didn’t support the House’s last attempt. Ahead of the previous and failed version, he urged his “friends in the House of Representatives… ‘Do not walk the plank and vote for a bill that cannot pass the Senate and then have to face the consequences of that vote.’”

Cory Gardner (Colorado, Elected Until 2020)

 

Gardner said he looks “forward to working with [his] colleagues” on the matter, but no official statement was made.

Rob Portman (Ohio, Elected Until 2022)

 

Portman’s statement advised that he has “already made clear that [he] doesn’t support the House bill as currently constructed.” He further asserted that while “Congress must take responsible action,” that “changes must be made that [do] not leave people behind.”

Pat Toomey (Pennsylvania, Elected Until 2022)

 

“The House bill is merely the first legislative step,” Toomey said, but released no official statement.

“We have no interest in playing the games of identity politics,” a Republican aide said of the criticism that the 13 Senators were all men. (There are five female senators amongst the 52 Republicans in the Senate.)

“To reduce this to gender, race or geography misses the more important point,” the aide insisted.

 

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Images via Wikimedia