Schumer Floor Remarks on the Motion to Proceed to TrumpCare, President Trump’s Public Criticism of AG Sessions and the Russia Sanctions Bill

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today delivered remarks on the Senate floor regarding the upcoming vote on the Senate GOP version of TrumpCare, President Trump’s recent tweets publicly criticizing Attorney General Jeff Sessions as well as the upcoming House vote on the Russia, Iran and North Korea sanctions bill. Below are his remarks:

Mr. President, in a few short hours, we’ll vote on the Motion to Proceed to the House Republican healthcare bill – and I’ll have more to say on the matter prior to the vote.

At the moment, no one knows the plan that’s being cooked up in the Republican Leader’s office, but it seems to be his intention to do whatever it takes – to pass anything, no matter how small -- to get the House and Senate Republicans into a conference on healthcare.

Surprisingly, I’ve heard that my friend the Junior Senator from Kentucky will vote “YES” on the Motion to Proceed—announced it himself.

It’s true that he will likely get a vote on an amendment to do repeal without replace – but surely he knows that vote will fail.

Why then would the Junior Senator from Kentucky – a man who has preached the repeal of the Affordable Care Act “root and branch,” a man who proselytized that Republicans should stop at nothing short of full repeal – why would the Junior Senator from Kentucky vote on the Motion to Proceed knowing that he won’t get what he wants?

It’s because Sen. Paul knows that if the Senate manages to pass something to get into conference with the House, the likeliest compromise in conference is a full repeal of the Affordable Care Act or something close to it.

It will certainly mean drastic cuts in Medicaid, huge tax cuts for the rich, no help for those with preexisting conditions, and millions and millions losing health care, particularly in our poorer and more rural states.

That’s the only thing the Republicans have ever been able to agree on. The hard-right Freedom Caucus in the House would never accept a Republican bill that only repeals a few regulations in the ACA but leaves much of it in place – NO – they want full repeal and—at a minimum—deep cuts to Medicaid and tax breaks for the wealthy.

So make no mistake: the only reason the Junior Senator from Kentucky would vote for the Motion to Proceed is because he believes it is a path to full repeal.

To my Republican friends who have said, repeatedly, that full repeal without replacement would be a disaster; to my Republican friends who have opposed deep and drastic cuts to Medicaid: do not be fooled by this ruse.

A vote in favor of the Motion to Proceed will mean deep cuts to Medicaid, maybe even deeper than in the House bill. It will mean people with preexisting conditions will be left high and dry. It will mean huge tax breaks for the wealthiest of Americans. It will mean millions will lose their coverage.

So all the complaining, why we're here at this late moment, because even the House bill was too drastic for many of the members here, is now being ignored on this Motion to Proceed because we all know, we all know the ruse that's going on.

The ruse is answered: It will go back to the House and then we'll see what they send us. We may not know every detail. It will be either full repeal without replace or something far too close to that.

And all of the work, all of the anguish that so many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have shown in the last several weeks will be wasted, because they know darn well what's going to happen and when there is a conference. There are no Democratic votes in the House. The Freedom Caucus calls the shots. They will either ask for full repeal or something very close to it.

So make no mistake about it: A vote in favor of the Motion to Proceed this afternoon will be a permission slip to slash Medicaid, hurt millions, and raise taxes on the wealthy—something the vast majority of Americans in every state, a large, large percentage of Republicans and Trump voters abhor.

One last plea to my colleagues: Do not fall for the ruse that the Majority Leader is putting together. We know what's going on. We all know. Our constituents won't be fooled. Oh, no. We on this side are not fooled. Oh, no. And I hope my colleagues, who out of compassion and care for the people in their states have made such a fuss up to now, won't be fooled either.

On another matter, Mr. President.

In recent days, President Trump has gone out of his way to undermine his own Attorney General.

He has tweeted scathing criticism of Attorney General Sessions and chastised him publicly for recusing himself from the Russia investigation and several other perceived failures in the eyes of the President.

We should all take a moment to think about how shocking these comments are—on a human basis.

This is the first person who stuck his neck out for Donald Trump, who was with him through thick and thin. And now even if the President has disagreements with him which I think are ill founded, self-centered, and wrong, you don't ridicule him in public. Someone who is your close friend? That speaks to character. But I would like to speak to the major issue before us, which is related.

It’s clear that President Trump is trying to bully his own Attorney General out of office. How can anyone draw a different conclusion? If President Trump has serious criticisms of his Attorney General, why not go talk to him in person? Why air his grievances so publicly? He wants him out.

Here is the danger: Many Americans must be wondering if the President is trying to pry open the office of Attorney General to appoint someone during the August recess who will fire Special Counsel Mueller and shut down the Russia investigation

First, let me state for the record now before this scheme gains wings: Democrats would never go along with a recess appointment if that situation arises. We have some tools in our toolbox to stymie such an action and we are ready to use all of them. Any time

And second, I can’t imagine my friends on the Republican side—particularly in Republican Leadership – the Majority Leader and Speaker Ryan – would be complicit in creating a constitutional crisis. They must work with us and not open the door to a constitutional crisis during the August recess.

One last item, Mr. President.

I know there is a lot going on today, but I want to mention one item from the House of Representatives.  Later today, the House is going to take up and hopefully pass, with near unanimity, a sanctions bill that includes strong sanctions against Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

It is critical that the Senate act promptly on that legislation.  I will work with the majority leader to ensure its swift passage so that we can get it to the President’s desk before we leave for the recess.

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