Skip to main content

The context you need, when you need it

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters — and what to do about it. At Vox, our mission to help you make sense of the world has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own.

We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?

Join now

“Don’t kill us, kill the bill!”: GOP Senate health care vote interrupted by protests

Senate Republicans taking up their health care bill Tuesday afternoon were interrupted by protesters shouting at them from the public gallery above.

“Don’t kill us, kill the bill!” they yelled.

Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), banging the gavel, tried to quiet the protesters. The demonstrations had been organized by the Center for Popular Democracy and other activist groups that have joined an ongoing, months-long resistance movement to kill the Republican health bill. Shouts almost drowned out the “aye” votes as Republicans took up the vote on a motion to proceed on their Obamacare repeal bill.

Just as one group of protesters shouted at Senate Republicans from the gallery, several hundred took to the Hart Senate Office Building to also decry the bill.

“No cuts to Medicaid! No cuts to Medicaid! No cuts to Medicaid!” they chanted, as staffers looked on from the floors above.

See More:

More in Politics

Politics
The real reason Americans hate the economy so muchThe real reason Americans hate the economy so much
Politics

Did decades of low inflation make the public far more unforgiving when it finally did surge?

By Andrew Prokop
Podcasts
The Supreme Court abortion pills case, explainedThe Supreme Court abortion pills case, explained
Podcast
Podcasts

How Louisiana brought mifepristone back to SCOTUS.

By Peter Balonon-Rosen and Sean Rameswaram
Politics
Trump’s China policy is nearly the exact opposite of what everyone expectedTrump’s China policy is nearly the exact opposite of what everyone expected
Politics

As Trump heads to China, attention and resources are being shifted from Asia to yet another war in the Middle East.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Are far-right politics just the new normal?Are far-right politics just the new normal?
Politics

Liberals are preparing for a longer war with right-wing populists than they once expected.

By Zack Beauchamp
The Logoff
Flavored vapes doomed Trump’s FDA headFlavored vapes doomed Trump’s FDA head
The Logoff

Why Marty Makary is out at the FDA, briefly explained.

By Cameron Peters
Politics
Virginia Democrats’ irresponsible new plan to save their gerrymanderVirginia Democrats’ irresponsible new plan to save their gerrymander
Politics

Democrats just handed the Supreme Court’s Republicans a loaded weapon.

By Ian Millhiser