House Republic leadership has drafted a new plan for repealing and "replacing" Obamacare, but virtually no one is allowed to see it.
The document is being treated a bit like a top-secret surveillance intercept. It is expected to be available to members and staffers on the House Energy and Commerce panel starting Thursday, but only in a dedicated reading room, one Republican lawmaker and a committee aide said. Nobody will be given copies to take with them. [...]
Republican leaders are trying to avoid a repeat of what happened last time. When an outdated draft leaked last week, it was quickly panned by conservatives.
Their new fantasy "replacement" bill is literally being guarded and even Republican senators are not allowed to see it.
Hi @HouseGOP and @SpeakerRyan, why are you hiding your health care bill behind Capitol Police? Asking for the American people pic.twitter.com/4kPsnrHltg
— Ways and Means Dems (@WaysMeansCmte) March 2, 2017
.@RandPaul attempts (and fails) to get into reading room for the House E&C draft of the Obamacare repeal bill pic.twitter.com/o28CESph1O
— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) March 2, 2017
But wait, there's a surprise twist to the story!
The bill isn't even in the secret bill room.
The bill is not here. Rep House: "We cannot find the bill." pic.twitter.com/9tqrKEoDal
— Paul McLeod (@pdmcleod) March 2, 2017
Press was just let in H-157. Empty room, no bill in sight 🙁 pic.twitter.com/0d25hwcUG6
— Sarah Kliff (@sarahkliff) March 2, 2017