Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Joe Biden: Former Vice President returns to politics by protesting for Obamacare on US Capitol steps

The veteran senator will join other senior Democrats on the steps of the Capitol Building

Peter Walker
Tuesday 21 March 2017 14:18 GMT
Comments
'Fate has a strange way of intervening,' Mr Biden told journalists when asked if he would run for the White House in 2020
'Fate has a strange way of intervening,' Mr Biden told journalists when asked if he would run for the White House in 2020 (Getty)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Former Vice President Joe Biden will make his first public appearance since leaving the White House at a protest against the dismantling of ‘Obamacare’.

The veteran politician will joins fellow Democrats on the front steps of the Capitol Building in Washington to demonstrate against Republicans moves to replace the Affordable Care Act.

The 74-year-old, who continues to campaign on cancer care, has been largely under the radar after Donald Trump's presidential inauguration.

The former Delaware senator expected to be joining the protest, alongside another senior Democrat, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

The event is being billed as a celebration marking the seventh anniversary of the act which was signed into law on 23 March, 2013.

House Republican leaders meanwhile have scheduled a vote on their Obamacare repeal bill for the 23 March this year.

A total 216 votes are needed to pass the bill.

A recent Congressional Budget Office estimate predicted that the new bill will save $337 billion (£227 billion) over a decade, but that 24 million more Americans will lose healthcare coverage, 14 million of them in the first year alone.

Ms Pelosi, who has coined the GOP’s replacement “TrumpCare”, told CBS' Face the Nation: “What Republicans have put forth is a terrible bill — 24 million people kicked off of health insurance which the Speaker calls ‘an act of mercy’.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in