Senate Republican leaders finally unveiled their replacement of the Affordable health care act aka Obamacare on Thursday, giving the public a first look at a bill that would completely overhaul the nation’s healthcare system.

The bill proposes to phase out the expansion of the Medicaid program for the poor and disabled from 2021 to 2024, and then push deeper cuts in the program than the House version starting 2025. It would also allow states to add work requirements for some Medicaid enrollees, and also keep the structure of Obamacare’s insurance subsidies to help low-income people buy insurance.

The bill bars the use of subsidies for plans that include abortion coverage and Planned Parenthood would be defunded for one year. The bill which is quite similar to the version of the House passed last month which the President called “mean”.

Democratic leaders of Congress, who are not in support of the Obamacare replacement immediately attacked the Senate Republican version. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said “The president said the House bill was mean, the Senate bill may be even meaner.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is pushing for a vote as early as next Thursday but is still short of the 50 votes he needs to pass the bill, with many Senators saying they would only make a decision when they see final legislation.

Itunuoluwa