Senate Republicans Crafting Health Care Bill - What's Your Take?

Should Lawmakers Have the Leeway to Craft Proposed Laws in Private?

That's the buzz in Washington this week, about a new health care proposal; a GOP plan to "repeal and replace" Obamacare. No, not the Republican-sponsored bill that eked through the House of Representatives a few weeks ago without a single vote from Democrats, but a version being crafted right now in the Senate.

Here's what's gotten some people angry: Senate Republicans writing this proposal have not held a single hearing, released any preliminary summary of ideas, or even alluded to the possible contents of their bill. Their process in building this proposal has been entirely closed.

This has raised the ire of Democrats, predictably, who are anxious to preserve Obamacare and its "gains," as they see it. Democratic leaders are crying foul, saying the Senate GOP's "repeal and replace" proposal should be crafted in full view of the public, if it is to have any legitimacy.

For their part, Senate Republican leaders point to the problems that could come of opening the process -- the constant nit-picking scrutiny and political spin that would certainly overtake any public negotiations over a new health care bill. To craft a reasonable plan, the GOP says, they must negotiate its details behind closed doors -- at least for now.

These arguments -- on both sides -- are strikingly familiar. It was only a few short years ago that Democrats, in the majority of both the House and the Senate, went behind closed doors to negotiate the deal that put Obamacare in place. And it was a Republican outcry at the lack of transparency that ultimately began the party's push for "repeal and replace."

Now, it should be a surprise to exactly no one that each party argues their own side in any political debate, no matter the hypocrisy that accumulates over time.

The more important question is this: no matter the party in charge, do you think major legislation should be crafted and molded in the light of public scrutiny? Or do you believe lawmakers should have leeway to incubate an idea before they release it to the wider public?

Comment here, and hit the Take Action button to tell your Senators what you think!

-- Andrea Seabrook, Countable Managing Editor