Dem, Republican party chiefs clash on transparency in healthcare talks

Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel and Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez on Sunday sparred over the Senate GOP’s plan to repeal and replace ObamaCare amid accusations of a lack of transparency.

“When we debated the Affordable Care Act in 2009 in the Senate, there were 100 hearings in the Senate. There were 143 amendments to the final Senate bill that were Republican amendments,” Perez told NBC’s Chuck Todd on “Meet the Press.”

“If this hadn’t been done in secret as the recent bill had done, we could have come together,” he continued.

{mosads}“I’m confident that we can come together if our north star is we’re going to help increase access to quality affordable healthcare,” he said.

“Then where are you right now?” McDaniel interjected. “Democrats are sitting on their hands. They’re watching this thing that they’ve crafted collapse and they’re saying we’re not coming to the table.”

Democrats, as well as Republican senators such as Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Ron Johnson (Wis.), have spoken out against the lack of transparency in the Senate GOP healthcare plan, which was crafted behind closed doors.

Several GOP lawmakers remain undecided on the bill. President Trump has suggested repealing and then replacing if the upper chamber cannot agree.

Republicans can have only two defections and still pass the legislation with Vice President Pence being brought in to cast a tie-breaking vote.