House Dems to highlight healthcare law benefits before Tuesday debate

Our colleague Jason Millman writes that House Democratic leaders will hold a pro-healthcare law hearing at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, just before House Republicans start debate on a healthcare repeal bill, H.R. 2.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and Minority Whip James Clyburn (Md.) will preside over the hearing, along with four other members of the House Democratic Steering Committee: Reps. George Miller (Calif.), Rosa DeLauro (Conn.), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.), and Henry Cuellar (Texas).

A statement sent out by House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) this morning indicates Democrats will pursue three broad themes as they argue in favor of keeping the law. According to Hoyer, repeal would increase the budget deficit, put insurance companies "back in charge" of healthcare, and "accelerate the insolvency of Medicare" by about 12 years.

Republicans have rejected these charges and argue that efforts to replace the law with Republican alternatives would keep the deficit in check and improve health outcomes by relying more on market-based solutions, such as allowing insurance competition across state lines.

Updated at 11:05 a.m.