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| 'Kill the bill': activists use latest GOP healthcare delay to ramp up pressure | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Activists opposed to the Republican plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) plan to make the most of a delay caused by the absence of John McCain as he recovers from surgery. | Activists opposed to the Republican plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) plan to make the most of a delay caused by the absence of John McCain as he recovers from surgery. |
| Liberal grassroots groups have organized a slate of public rallies and protests to draw attention to the Republican effort to repeal the 2010 healthcare law, popularly known as Obamacare. On Monday afternoon, a coalition of groups joined Democratic members of Congress on Capitol Hill to denounce the latest version of the Senate Republican bill. Activists were also preparing to stage sit-ins in the offices of undecided Republican senators, to urge them to “kill the bill”. | Liberal grassroots groups have organized a slate of public rallies and protests to draw attention to the Republican effort to repeal the 2010 healthcare law, popularly known as Obamacare. On Monday afternoon, a coalition of groups joined Democratic members of Congress on Capitol Hill to denounce the latest version of the Senate Republican bill. Activists were also preparing to stage sit-ins in the offices of undecided Republican senators, to urge them to “kill the bill”. |
| Republicans had planned to hold a vote on a revised version of the healthcare bill this week. But on Saturday night, the majority leader, Mitch McConnell, announced that he would “defer consideration” of the bill because McCain would remain in Arizona for a week to recover from a surgery to remove a blood clot above his left eye. | Republicans had planned to hold a vote on a revised version of the healthcare bill this week. But on Saturday night, the majority leader, Mitch McConnell, announced that he would “defer consideration” of the bill because McCain would remain in Arizona for a week to recover from a surgery to remove a blood clot above his left eye. |
| One top Senate Republican vowed to press ahead with a vote on a revised version of the healthcare bill as soon as McCain returned to Washington. | One top Senate Republican vowed to press ahead with a vote on a revised version of the healthcare bill as soon as McCain returned to Washington. |
| “I believe as soon as we have a full contingent of senators, that we’ll have that vote,” John Cornyn of Texas, the No2 to McConnell, told NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday. | “I believe as soon as we have a full contingent of senators, that we’ll have that vote,” John Cornyn of Texas, the No2 to McConnell, told NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday. |
| McCain predicted last week that the Republicans most prized goal – repealing Obamacare – would be doomed once senators heard strong opposition from voters. McConnell had hoped to hold a vote before the August recess, which he delayed because of divisions among his party. | McCain predicted last week that the Republicans most prized goal – repealing Obamacare – would be doomed once senators heard strong opposition from voters. McConnell had hoped to hold a vote before the August recess, which he delayed because of divisions among his party. |
| Senate Republicans unveiled their revised healthcare draft last week, aiming to win over moderate and conservative holdouts. But the changes to the bill were swiftly rejected as insufficient by Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky, leaving leaders with only one vote to lose. | Senate Republicans unveiled their revised healthcare draft last week, aiming to win over moderate and conservative holdouts. But the changes to the bill were swiftly rejected as insufficient by Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky, leaving leaders with only one vote to lose. |
| Collins lambasted the proposal’s steep cuts to Medicaid, the entitlement program that helps provide low-income Americans with access to healthcare. Paul complained that the new legislation did not go far enough. | Collins lambasted the proposal’s steep cuts to Medicaid, the entitlement program that helps provide low-income Americans with access to healthcare. Paul complained that the new legislation did not go far enough. |
| The revised plan retains two ACA taxes on high-income earners, in order to generate revenue Republicans say can be directed toward subsidies for low-income people. It also includes $45bn in funding to address the opioid crisis that is a top priority both sides of the aisle. The bill nonetheless guts Medicaid by rolling back an expansion of the program under the ACA, in addition to altering the formula used to calculate its funding that analysts said could leave states with substantially less coverage. | The revised plan retains two ACA taxes on high-income earners, in order to generate revenue Republicans say can be directed toward subsidies for low-income people. It also includes $45bn in funding to address the opioid crisis that is a top priority both sides of the aisle. The bill nonetheless guts Medicaid by rolling back an expansion of the program under the ACA, in addition to altering the formula used to calculate its funding that analysts said could leave states with substantially less coverage. |
| Some moderate holdouts – Rob Portman of Ohio, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and Dean Heller of Nevada – were reluctant to embrace the bill, telling reporters on Capitol Hill their concerns over the impact on Medicaid remained. | Some moderate holdouts – Rob Portman of Ohio, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and Dean Heller of Nevada – were reluctant to embrace the bill, telling reporters on Capitol Hill their concerns over the impact on Medicaid remained. |
| On Sunday, Collins said there are “about eight to 10 Republican senators who have serious concerns about this bill”. | On Sunday, Collins said there are “about eight to 10 Republican senators who have serious concerns about this bill”. |
| “We should not be making fundamental changes in a vital safety net program that’s been on the books for 50 years, the Medicaid program, without having a single hearing to evaluate what the consequences are going to be,” she said on CNN’s State of the Union. | “We should not be making fundamental changes in a vital safety net program that’s been on the books for 50 years, the Medicaid program, without having a single hearing to evaluate what the consequences are going to be,” she said on CNN’s State of the Union. |
| Some Republicans also took issue with the inclusion of a controversial amendment crafted by two of the chamber’s most conservative members, Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah, that would allow insurers to offer bare-bones plans that do not meet the ACA’s coverage requirements as long as they also offer plans that do meet those standards. | Some Republicans also took issue with the inclusion of a controversial amendment crafted by two of the chamber’s most conservative members, Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah, that would allow insurers to offer bare-bones plans that do not meet the ACA’s coverage requirements as long as they also offer plans that do meet those standards. |
| Two of the nation’s largest insurance providers, American’s Health Insurance Plans and Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, called the provision “simply unworkable”. In a letter to Senate leadership, the insurance providers said the so-called Consumer Freedom Option would “undermine protections for those with pre-existing medical conditions, increase premiums and lead to widespread terminations of coverage for people currently enrolled in the individual market”. | Two of the nation’s largest insurance providers, American’s Health Insurance Plans and Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, called the provision “simply unworkable”. In a letter to Senate leadership, the insurance providers said the so-called Consumer Freedom Option would “undermine protections for those with pre-existing medical conditions, increase premiums and lead to widespread terminations of coverage for people currently enrolled in the individual market”. |
| Republicans hold a 52-seat majority in the Senate and can do without just two votes – a scenario that would require the vice-president, Mike Pence, to cast a tie-breaking vote. | Republicans hold a 52-seat majority in the Senate and can do without just two votes – a scenario that would require the vice-president, Mike Pence, to cast a tie-breaking vote. |
| A number of GOP leaders are openly skeptical that Senate Republicans can forge a consensus. But they also worry about the political consequences of failing to fulfill seven years of promises to repeal the ACA. | A number of GOP leaders are openly skeptical that Senate Republicans can forge a consensus. But they also worry about the political consequences of failing to fulfill seven years of promises to repeal the ACA. |
| “This is a critical time for us as Republicans because we do have the Senate, and the House and the White House,” Ronna McDaniel, chairman of the Republican National Committee, told conservative radio host Laura Ingraham on Monday. | “This is a critical time for us as Republicans because we do have the Senate, and the House and the White House,” Ronna McDaniel, chairman of the Republican National Committee, told conservative radio host Laura Ingraham on Monday. |
| “Now it’s our time to show not only that we can repeal and replace Obamacare, something that is failing across this country and crumbling, but also that we can govern when we’re given the majority. | “Now it’s our time to show not only that we can repeal and replace Obamacare, something that is failing across this country and crumbling, but also that we can govern when we’re given the majority. |
| “Republicans need to show that we can lead, and that we can tackle tough issues as a party, and that’s going to be important going into 2018 as to whether or not we can keep majorities in the House and expand our majority in the Senate, where we have a very favorable map.” | “Republicans need to show that we can lead, and that we can tackle tough issues as a party, and that’s going to be important going into 2018 as to whether or not we can keep majorities in the House and expand our majority in the Senate, where we have a very favorable map.” |
| Healthcare activists will continue to target wavering Republican senators. On Wednesday, as many as 200 people from across the country who could be affected by changes to the healthcare law will come to Washington. A press release said activists would “occupy Capitol Hill offices” and deliver the message: “Kill the bill. Don’t kill us.” | Healthcare activists will continue to target wavering Republican senators. On Wednesday, as many as 200 people from across the country who could be affected by changes to the healthcare law will come to Washington. A press release said activists would “occupy Capitol Hill offices” and deliver the message: “Kill the bill. Don’t kill us.” |