Republicans won’t release their ObamaCare repeal bill, so Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is hoping it will release itself.

“It is in a basement someplace, it’s like a genie act or something,” the House minority leader said during a press briefing in the Capitol.

“Maybe it’ll free itself somehow.”

After vowing for years to make ObamaCare repeal their top priority, the Republicans who control the White House and both chambers of Congress are struggling to come up with a replacement that’s both affordable and won’t cut coverage for millions of people insured under President Obama’s signature healthcare law.

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GOP leaders floated an initial draft of their alternative plan this week, but it was shot down by conservative Republicans after it leaked to the public.





Hoping to prevent a second leak from sinking the legislation, Republican leaders have reportedly stashed the latest the version of the bill in a secured room of the Capitol, where members of the Energy and Commerce Committee can peruse the details.

“I have been told that the House Obamacare bill is under lock & key, in a secure location, & not available for me or the public to view,” Paul tweeted. “This is unacceptable.”

The Democrats, who have defended ObamaCare from years of Republican attacks, are almost gloating as the Republicans are scrambling in search of a replacement.

Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) joined Paul in hunting for the legislation. And Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), the minority whip, sought to highlight the Republicans’ furtiveness by roaming the Capitol halls in his own search for the elusive bill. The public was invited to watch.

“Follow me live as I search for the House GOP's secret ACA repeal bill they are hiding from Members & the public,” Hoyer tweeted.

Press was just let in H-157. Empty room, no bill in sight :( pic.twitter.com/0d25hwcUG6 — Sarah Kliff (@sarahkliff) March 2, 2017

INSIDE THE ROOM They have let us in to see there is nothing here pic.twitter.com/E9HPEdKy9A — Peter Sullivan (@PeterSullivan4) March 2, 2017

Rep Pallone, literally on a reporter's suggestion, dips into @GOPLeader'soffice to ask if the healthcare bill's there pic.twitter.com/uh93U7qMk8 — Todd Zwillich (@toddzwillich) March 2, 2017

Pelosi, meanwhile, is urging the Republicans to release both the bill text and the cost estimate, as calculated by the Congressional Budget Office, the nonpartisan group that keeps official tallies.

“I don’t know if they’re not ready or they’re just keeping them secret — we just don’t know," Pelosi said Thursday, referring to those estimates. “But we’ve never been able to proceed with legislation of this magnitude without seeing a Congressional Budget Office score."

“We both have insisted on that,” she added. “The impact on the budget is essential to go forward.”