Durbin: Time For GOP To Show Its Cards On Obamacare
CHICAGO (CBS) -- With Republicans about to control the White House and both chambers of commerce, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said it will be interesting to see what Republicans will do if they follow through with promises to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
Durbin said it was excruciating to watch the election returns Tuesday night as it became increasingly clear Donald Trump would defeat Hillary Clinton in the race for president.
"It was awful. I mean, I kept thinking 'Alright, this is going to turn any minute,' and finally at midnight I went to sleep and I thought 'Maybe I'll wake up to a miracle.' Well, I woke up to something different, but that's the reality of politics in America," Durbin said.
Illinois' senior senator said, if Clinton had won, he would be asking Trump supporters to accept the legal verdict of the election and find ways to work together, so now that's what he must do now that the shoe is on the other foot.
"I now know the range of human emotions; in six days to go from the heights of the Cubs' victory to last night's election," he said.
Durbin said Democrats will have an uphill climb with Republicans in charge of the White House and both chambers of Congress, but he said Democrats will still have influence over legislation on Capitol Hill.
"The institution of the Senate was designed to respect the minority. We will have somewhere in the range of 47 or 48 members. The Republicans will not have 60 votes. Most of the important things will have to be done on a bipartisan basis," he said.
He also said now the public might find out how the GOP plans to replace President Barack Obama's signature health care law, if they repeal it as they failed to do for the past six years.
"We've heard the words repeal and replace so many times. Maybe now we'll get to see what replace looks like. Let's see if it covers 20 million Americans who had no health insurance. Let's make sure it provides health insurance policies that don't discriminate against women, people with pre-existing conditions; and gives families a chance to protect their children," he said.
The senator said he hopes the office of president builds Donald Trump, and helps him understand the awesome responsibility given to him by the American people.
