This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/24/republican-susan-collins-graham-cassidy-bill-obamacare-healthcare

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Republican Susan Collins likely to deal fatal blow to Graham-Cassidy bill Republican Susan Collins likely to deal fatal blow to Graham-Cassidy bill
(about 1 hour later)
Maine Republican Susan Collins looks all but certain to oppose the latest effort to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a move that would likely kill the so-called Graham-Cassidy bill and deal yet another legislative blow to the Trump administration.Maine Republican Susan Collins looks all but certain to oppose the latest effort to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a move that would likely kill the so-called Graham-Cassidy bill and deal yet another legislative blow to the Trump administration.
Collins, who voted against previous efforts to repeal the ACA, which is popularly known as Obamacare, told CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday it was “very difficult for me to envision a scenario where I would end up voting for this bill”. Collins, who voted against previous efforts to repeal the ACA, popularly known as Obamacare, told CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday it was “very difficult for me to envision a scenario where I would end up voting for this bill”.
Her “no” vote would likely deal a fatal blow to the senate bill as two Republicans, Rand Paul and John McCain, have already come out against it. Republicans hold a slim 52-48 majority in the Senate. A 50-50 tie on Graham-Cassidy would be broken by vice-president Mike Pence.Her “no” vote would likely deal a fatal blow to the senate bill as two Republicans, Rand Paul and John McCain, have already come out against it. Republicans hold a slim 52-48 majority in the Senate. A 50-50 tie on Graham-Cassidy would be broken by vice-president Mike Pence.
Collins told CNN she was waiting for a final analysis from the Congressional Budget Office, which she expected on Monday, before making a definitive decision. But she said: “I don’t know whether the CBO analysis will have new information that will change where I’m inclined to head.”Collins told CNN she was waiting for a final analysis from the Congressional Budget Office, which she expected on Monday, before making a definitive decision. But she said: “I don’t know whether the CBO analysis will have new information that will change where I’m inclined to head.”
Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski, another Republican who voted against the last effort to replace the ACA, has also yet to declare a position on the legislation. Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski, another who voted against the last effort to replace the ACA, has also yet to declare a position.
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell has been expected to bring the bill up for a vote at some point next week, as he looks to pass legislation to fulfil a seven-year Republican campaign promise. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell has been expected to bring the bill up for a vote before 30 September, as he looks to fulfil a seven-year Republican campaign promise.
Graham-Cassidy has prompted opposition across the political spectrum and in the healthcare sector. On Saturday, the American Medical Association, the Federation of American Hospitals, America’s Health Insurance Plans and the BlueCross BlueShield Association issued a joint statement against it.Graham-Cassidy has prompted opposition across the political spectrum and in the healthcare sector. On Saturday, the American Medical Association, the Federation of American Hospitals, America’s Health Insurance Plans and the BlueCross BlueShield Association issued a joint statement against it.
The groups said Graham-Cassidy would cause patients to lose important protections and undermine those with pre-existing conditions; would implement “dramatic cuts” to Medicaid for vulnerable citizens; would make coverage more expensive; and contained “unworkable” timelines for implementation.The groups said Graham-Cassidy would cause patients to lose important protections and undermine those with pre-existing conditions; would implement “dramatic cuts” to Medicaid for vulnerable citizens; would make coverage more expensive; and contained “unworkable” timelines for implementation.
The statement read: “Healthcare is too important to get wrong. Let’s take the time to get it right. Let’s agree to find real, bipartisan solutions that make healthcare work for every American.”The statement read: “Healthcare is too important to get wrong. Let’s take the time to get it right. Let’s agree to find real, bipartisan solutions that make healthcare work for every American.”
On Sunday, treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin said that if the bill did fail in the Senate, the president would be open to negotiating with Democrats.On Sunday, treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin said that if the bill did fail in the Senate, the president would be open to negotiating with Democrats.
“To the extent they [Democrats] are willing to come to the table and fix it, the president would always listen,” Mnuchin said on CNN.“To the extent they [Democrats] are willing to come to the table and fix it, the president would always listen,” Mnuchin said on CNN.
Other administration officials held out a degree of hope that the bill could yet progress, indicating that they would concentrate efforts on swinging the vote of Paul.
Marc Short, the White House director of legislative affairs, told Fox News Sunday that the bill’s provision to defund Planned Parenthood, the nonprofit that provides reproductive healthcare, should be enough to sway the senator, a staunch abortion opponent.
“If Rand Paul is the final vote here, it’s hard to see how he can go to his support and say I had the chance to protect life [and voted against],” Short said.
Paul appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press. He indicated that his opposition to the bill centered around the proposed temporary block grants to the states that would replace Medicaid expansion funds contained in the ACA.
The proposal is a central building block in the bill and, according to numerous pieces of analysis, would significantly reduce federal healthcare funding, particularly for low-income Americans.
Nonetheless, Paul, a conservative libertarian, argued that the grants would not go far enough.
“I started my political career campaigning against Obamacare,” he said. “I can’t in good conscience vote to keep it.”