Energy And Commerce Democrats Kept Republicans Debating Medicaid Cuts For 26 and 1/2 Hours

Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee kept Republicans voting on amendments and debating Medicaid cuts for 26 and a half hours.

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Democrats on the Energy and Commerce Committee were not going to let Republicans off easy during the tax cuts for the rich markup, but they went to nearly historic levels to make their point about how wrong it is for Republicans to pay for tax cuts for the rich by taking healthcare away from 14 million people.

Karen Tumulty of The Washington Post posted on X:

Nearly 26 1/2 hours after they began, a sleepless House Energy and Commerce Committee is finally about to vote on this bill:

At this point, the House Energy and Commerce Committee has been in markup on its "Big, Beautiful Bill" -- and arguing over Medicaid cuts -- for 17 hours straight. Still dozens of amendments to go.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez posted at 2 AM on X, “It’s 2 am and we’re still marking up massive cuts to Medicaid. While their constituents are asleep, Republicans are trying to take away health care from 13.7 million people to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.”

The live stream was so long on YouTube that it had to be divided into three parts.

This is exactly what Democratic voters want to see.

Republicans have to grind and work for everything. Nothing will be given to them. If Republicans want to throw 14 million off of their healthcare, Democrats aren’t going to sit around and go along with it.

Democrats fought, and they made Republicans vote on amendment after amendment. At some point, this markup became a test of wills as Republicans refused to adjourn the hearing and resume later today.

Democrats are fighting for the people, and the voters will reward their fight. House Democrats have very little power because the majority rules all in the House, but they are using every trick available to them to make everything that Republicans try to do miserable and difficult.

We may never see another hearing again that lasts for 26 and a half hours. Republicans eventually got their tax cuts for the rich passed through the committee. There is still a long way to go in the process before the legislation that Republicans are drafting becomes law, but look for Democrats to give Republicans nothing and fight for the American people every step of the way.

What do you think about the marathon markup? Share your thoughts in the comments below.