This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Once again, Republicans are moving to destroy our health care, only this time they think we won't notice. While we're focused on the turmoil of big headline events like Trump-Russia collusion and Trump's withdrawal from the Paris climate accord, Senate Republicans are quietly working to dismantle our health care. They're secretly negotiating behind closed doors to push their version of Trumpcare without any public input.
Health care impacts all of us and one-sixth of our economy but Senate Democrats are locked out of the discussions and barred from seeing any details. By invoking obscure "Rule 14," Senate Republicans plan to bypass all public hearings and committee votes and ram their bill through Congress by the end of June.
At best, Democrats and the public will be given a few hours to examine their bill. A few hours to learn how the GOP will gut health care for working people, seniors, veterans, children, the disabled and others. Based on the House version and GOP diatribe about health care, we know it will cause millions of us undue suffering while tax breaks are given to the ultra rich.
Call Sens. Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee immediately and tell them this is unacceptable. Demand transparency.
Linda Callison
Ivins