As U.S. Senate leaders meet to negotiate a new Health Care Bill, local activists spoke out Wednesday about the closed-door negotiations.

  • U.S. Senate to release draft of health care bill Thursday
  • The Senate wants a vote on the bill before the July 4th recess
  • Activists protested the lack of transparency behind bill negotiations
  • D.C. DIGEST: Latest News | Contact Your Lawmakers

"The Senate is negotiating in secret. No hearings, no nothing. Yes, we want more transparency," Orlando resident, William Turnbull said during a protest on the steps of US Senator Marco Rubio’s office.

William Turnbull says the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, is the reason he's able to walk today. He says he couldn't afford the multiple back surgeries he needed to stand without ACA’s insurance benefits.

Other Democrats in Washington D.C. echoed Turnbull’s concerns during rallies.

"To have a bill that now effects one fifth of the economy going through in this secret way, being jammed through the Senate, impacting every American without one hearing -- it’s outrageous,” said Senator Debbie Stabenow, a Democrat from Michigan.

Despite Democrat outcry, Republicans say their health care proposal will be released Thursday and will look different from the House Bill.

"I think all the concerns about the process will evaporate because there will be unlimited opportunities for people to read it, discuss it and debate it," said Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas.

The Senate's Republican leadership wants to get the bill to the Congressional Budget Office before the weekend is out so the Senate will have at least a preliminary estimate on the bill's impact, including cost and how many people may lose or gain insurance coverage.

People losing insurance coverage and increasing premiums are major concerns, even inside the Republican Party. Major Medicaid reforms are also expected.

Republicans want to get a vote on repealing the ACA out of the way so they can move onto over priorities, especially tax reform.

“If you can’t get 50 votes for an alternative to Obamacare then I feel the public needs to know and then we can move to taxes,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina.  

The Senate leadership wants a vote on the bill before the July 4th recess.

Even if the bill passes, it will still have to go back to the U.S. House to iron out differences in the two bills before it goes to President Trump.

The 13 men who created the Senate health care bill

The Senate's version of the health care bill was created behind closed doors, with 13 men part of the working group, all Republicans. 

  • Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky
  • Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Chairman Lamar Alexander of Tennessee
  • Budget Chairman Mike Enzi of Wyoming
  • Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch of Utah
  • Sen. John Coryn of Texas
  • Sen. John Thune of South Dakota
  • Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming
  • Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas
  • Sen. Mike Lee of Utah
  • Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas
  • Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado
  • Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio
  • Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania