02 July, 2017
The Senate bill meant to replace the Affordable Care Act this week dominated headlines across the country. He says the divide in the Republican Party was too much to overcome.
This week on Money Talking, Host Charlie Herman talks with Tami Luhby of CNNMoney and Jonathan Cohn of The Huffington Post about the state of healthcare today and whether or not Obamacare is "failing". We can talk about Mitch McConnell's cynical plan to rush the bill through the Senate.
"I guess I haven't thought about it in quite that narrow perspective", said Black, who shepherded the bill through the House Budget Committee, which she chairs.
What the Congressional health care bills would do to Medicaid funding has become a game of words in Washington.
The latest Trump flare up came as Texas Congressional delegation was returning home for the Fourth of July recess, marking the half-way point of not just a bruising summer for the GOP, but a tough year with no substantial legislative achievements beyond the confirmation of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch. And in December 2015, as a member of the Senate, Heller voted for the scaled-back version of the repeal that was supposed to serve as the baseline for repeal under a Republican president.
Almost a half-year later, with legislation to partially repeal and partially replace Obamacare teetering on the brink of failure in the Senate, the idea of a "repeal and delay" strategy is suddenly being promoted by - wait for it - Rand Paul and Donald Trump.
The Nevada senator made reference to ads from a pro-Trump nonprofit group attacking him for opposing the Senate GOP's healthcare bill. Rand Paul, R-Ky., complained that the legislation contained $136 billion in assistance for insurers - what he called "insurance company bailouts".
Most Americans want our representatives to work together for the common good.
While Trump has blustered about letting the Affordable Care Act "crash and burn", senators from both parties want to protect consumers who would be the victims if insurance markets collapse in any states.
A Senate GOP aide previously told The Hill that canceling the August recess is highly unlikely because "there's usually a trip somewhere" planned for a congressional delegation and it would be almost impossible to get all 52 Republicans on board with the plan. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., the bill would retain Obama's 3.8 percent tax increase on investments by higher earners. As millions of Americans struggle to keep their heads above water - pay their bills, raise their kids, care for their parents, and cope with health problems - they need our help, not a plan that undercuts those efforts.
The overtures have begun - tentatively. Sen.
Deal, for his part, joined the chorus of Republicans who said sweeping changes were needed to fix the Affordable Care Act.
McConnell and his aides plan continue negotiations through the end of the week and will be in frequent communication with the CBO, according to McConnell spokesman David Popp.
"Our leaders are reluctant to have our members, however well intentioned, be lone rangers negotiating on our own", Carper said.
