With a portable copy machine in tow, Sen. Paul led the charge to find the reportedly “top-secret” draft of an ACA replacement bill, according to a report from Vox. Reports surfaced Wednesday evening that the House Energy and Finance Committee had a draft and was allowing its members to review it in a dedicated reading room Thursday. Members were not allowed to remove copies of the bill from the room, according to Bloomberg.
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
Once Sen. Paul heard the news, he made it his mission to find the bill. Rumors began circulating the bill was being kept in House meeting room H-157, according to Vox.
I am heading to the secure location where they are keeping the House obamacare bill. I will demand a copy for the American people.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 2, 2017
Sen. Paul hightailed it to H-157 with a portable copy machine in case he gained access to the text.
.@randpaul wasn’t allowed to see the House GOP’s Obamacare bill. Brought his own copy machine, just in case. pic.twitter.com/KpAXhfltsV
— Eli Yokley (@eyokley) March 2, 2017
When Sen. Paul arrived at H-157, Capitol Police guarding the door denied his entrance, according to the report. Sen. Paul was trailed by Rep. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., and a group of Democratic Congress members. The police allowed House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., into the room. After going through the room, Rep. Hoyer reported there were no people or bills inside, according to the report.
The bill was not located, according to Vox, but the hunt garnered quite a bit of attention on Twitter with #WheresTheBill.
Despite the circus-like atmosphere surrounding the draft, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., issued a statement that the panel was following business as usual.
“Reports that the Energy and Commerce Committee is doing anything other the regular process of keeping its members up to speed on latest developments in its jurisdictions are false,” Rep. Walden said in a press release. “Simply put, Energy and Commerce majority members and staff are continuing to discuss and refine draft legislative language on issues under our committee’s jurisdiction.”
Editor’s note: This article was updated at 10:00 a.m. CT on March 3.
More articles on leadership and management:
Latest GOP health bill is top-secret, available only in dedicated reading room
After tie, Senate Finance Committee to vote again on CMS nominee Seema Verma
The 3 things Bill Gates would tell his 19-year-old self
