Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn dismissed criticism that the 13-person team selected by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to re-write the House’s Obamacare repeal-and-replacement bill lacks female voices Monday.
The group — which consists of Republican Sens. Orrin Hatch of Utah, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Mike Enzi of Wyoming, John Thune of South Dakota, Ted Cruz of Texas, Mike Lee of Utah, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Cory Gardner of Colorado, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, John Barrasso of Wyoming, Rob Portman of Ohio Cornyn and McConnell — was established to reflect the different views of the party, Cornyn told The Washington Examiner Friday.
Social media was quick to point out the working panel was all male, criticizing McConnell for its lack of gender diversity, The Hill first noted.
Cornyn pushed back against the notion female voices were not being taken into consideration as they look to rework the legislation.
“That is so bogus — we can’t pass anything without 51 senators,” he told reporters Monday of the criticisms. “We need everybody, including all of our great Republican women who are contributing to the process.”
The House narrowly passed its bill Thursday along party lines after months of negotiations and a botched first attempt in March. The bill is expected to be significantly changed in the upper chamber before it is sent back to House.
Cornyn told reporters GOP senators don’t want to put an artificial timeline on completing the changes since they are more concerned with getting the bill right.
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