Former Republican Sen. David Durenberger is urging lawmakers to vote no on plans to proceed with a healthcare bill.
Durenberger, who represented Minnesota from 1978-95, made his comments in a column for USA Today.
"This week, the Senate once again is set to vote on a healthcare bill that will radically change how people get coverage and who can afford their care," he said
Durenberger noted senators are being asked to approve a motion to proceed to a vote without knowing what will be in the bill.
And he said senators do not have full knowledge of what the Congressional Budget Office will say about the impact on major amendments to the bill and do not know the details of the "secret state Medicaid waivers the Trump administration insists will make the bill work."
He noted lawmakers also don't know how individual state budgets will be impacted.
"A vote in these circumstances will rightly provoke anger and distrust unlikely to abate," he said. "Take it from me: A no vote on the motion to proceed this week is the only one that will be defensible in the years to come.
"I have had my arm twisted by the best of them — presidents and Senate leaders and party whips alike. I know how uncomfortable it can be. Usually, they were able to attempt a convincing argument about what is good about the bill for the country or my state.
"Never in all my years did I experience the level of bullying we see today. It doesn't look good in Minnesota, and I suspect it doesn't look any better in your state."
He cautioned lawmakers should avoid rushing the vote.
"The good news is we haven't run out of time to ask questions and to work together to fix what needs fixing if we take the time to return to regular order and hold hearings," he said.
"There is no making good on all of the issues later. Once the funds for health coverage are gone, it will take new tax increases to replace them. And what's the likelihood that will happen?"
He added: "There will be no hiding this vote."
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