Rand Paul: Secrecy Around House GOP's Obamacare Draft 'Unacceptable'

Republican Sen. Rand Paul isn't happy with House Republicans' decision to keep their Obamacare replacement bill under lock and key somewhere in the Capitol Building.

The Kentucky lawmaker aired his grievances on Twitter Thursday morning to protest the move.

I have been told that the House Obamacare bill is under lock & key, in a secure location, & not available for me or the public to view.

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 2, 2017

@RandPaul This is unacceptable. This is the biggest issue before Congress and the American people right now.

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 2, 2017

@RandPaul What is the House leadership trying to hide? My guess is, they are trying to hide their "Obamacare Lite" approach.

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 2, 2017

@RandPaul Renaming and keeping parts of Obamacare, new entitlements and extending medicaid expansion are not the #FullRepeal we promised

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 2, 2017

@RandPaul House and Senate passed repeal in 2015. They should keep their promises and bring them up again for a vote now

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 2, 2017

@RandPaul I demand the House release the text of the bill. Every elected official & every American deserve to know what they're trying to do

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 2, 2017

@RandPaul I will not vote for Obamacare Lite nor will many of my colleagues. We will keep our word. I call on House leaders to do the same

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 2, 2017

@RandPaul And I call on them to make this process transparent and to let the sunshine in. Today.

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 2, 2017

Bloomberg reported Wednesday that the draft of the Obamacare replacement bill is being kept under a tight lid. It was to be available for members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Thursday morning, but only in a dedicated reading room. Lawmakers would not be allowed to make copies or remove the document from the room.

Republicans have promised in recent years to repeal and replace Obamacare, but any effort to do so during former President Barack Obama's presidency would have resulted in failure. With Republican President Donald Trump in office, the GOP's plans to ditch the Affordable Care Act for something else have been given new life. 

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