Health Care Protesters In Wheelchairs Dragged Out Of Capitol Building

WASHINGTON, DC — Capitol police began dragging protesters in wheelchairs out of the Capitol building and handcuffing disabled activists as demonstrators disrupted Senate proceedings on Monday.

The protesters came in opposition to the Graham-Cassidy bill, the latest attempt by the GOP to overhaul Obamacare. The legislation would cut federal funding for health care and weaken consumer protections for insurance, while reallocating money across the states. (For more information on this and other political stories, subscribe to the White House Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

"No cuts to Medicaid, save our liberty!" protesters chanted.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee where the only hearing on Graham-Cassidy was being held, called a recess to the proceedings as the protesters disrupted the process.

"If you want a hearing, you'd better shut up," Hatch told the protesters.

Allison Ollstein, a journalist with Talking Points Memo, reported that protesters had camped out in the Capitol building since 5 a.m. They filled the room ahead of the hearing, and they began chanting as soon as Hatch banged his gavel to begin. One by one, the Capitol Police removed the protesters, many of whom were disabled, from the room.

Chanting continued outside the room even after they protesters were removed. Ollstein reported that after the protesters were cleared, other members of the public were not allowed to fill their seats.

The Congressional Budget Office plans to release a preliminary analysis of the Graham-Cassidy bill by Monday night. However, because of the rushed process the Republicans have used to push the bill through, CBO will not be able provide a full analysis of the bill's effects. This means the Senate could vote on the bill without an official evaluation of its effects on premiums, deductibles or the number of the uninsured.

The bill would reduce the funding currently allocated through Obamacare and redistribute it across the states. Initial estimates projected that overall, federal health spending would be cut by more than $200 billion by 2026, and 34 states would see reduced funding. It would completely tear down the federal infrastructure for health care marketplaces and encourage each state to design the system and regulations on its own, which could leave people with preexisting conditions facing higher costs for their care.

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Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images