Afternoon Round Up: "Effectively Doomed" Edition
It didn’t take long for Senator McConnell’s latest plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act to collapse. Maybe a look at the headlines will convince the GOP it’s time to abandon repeal and work with Democrats to improve the ACA:
Politico: New GOP plan to repeal Obamacare meets fatal opposition
“Senate Republicans' Plan B to gut Obamacare is poised for failure, as three GOP senators said Tuesday they will vote against a procedural motion to advance repeal of the health law without a replacement — dooming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s latest effort.”
“But while Trump and conservatives clamored to resurrect the bill that was vetoed by President Barack Obama, other Republicans hailing from states that benefited from the 2010 health law quickly threw up opposition to repealing it without a replacement.”
“‘As I have said before, I did not come to Washington to hurt people,’ Capito of West Virginia said. ‘I cannot vote to repeal Obamacare without a replacement plan that addresses my concerns and the needs of West Virginians.’”
The Hill:GOP's repeal-only plan quickly collapses in Senate
“Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) says she will not support moving forward with a plan to repeal ObamaCare with a delayed replacement, effectively killing the latest legislative gambit from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).”
“The quick pushback from moderates is raising fresh concerns about whether congressional Republicans will be able to make good on their years-long campaign pledge to repeal ObamaCare.”
“What happens next is unclear, with Republicans deeply divided over what to do and other pressing matters — including funding the government and raising the debt ceiling — looming on the agenda.”
Washington Post: Trump suggests Republicans will let ACA market collapse, then rewrite health law
“As divisions between the two main ideological camps within the GOP widened Tuesday, Republicans were scrambling to contain the political fallout from the collapse of a months-long effort to rewrite former President Barack Obama’s signature domestic accomplishment.”
“But it became quickly apparent that GOP leaders, who were caught off guard by defections of their members Monday night, lacked the votes to abolish parts of the 2010 law outright. Three centrist Republican senators — Susan Collins (Maine), Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) — all said they would oppose any vote to proceed with an immediate repeal of the law.”
“A handful of other senators, along with 11 GOP and Democratic governors, also called on congressional leaders to launch a bipartisan process to revamp the nation’s health care system.”
New York Times: ‘Plan C’ on Obamacare, Repeal Now and Replace Later, Has Collapsed
“With their bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act in tatters, Senate leaders on Tuesday pushed to vote on a different measure that would repeal major parts of President Barack Obama’s health law without a replacement — but that plan appeared also to collapse.”
“The collapse of the Senate Republican health bill — and the failing struggle to find yet another alternative — highlighted a harsh reality for Senate Republicans: While Republican senators freely assailed the health law while Mr. Obama occupied the White House, they have so far not been able to come up with a workable plan to unwind it that would keep both moderate Republicans and conservatives on board.”
Wall Street Journal: GOP Short of Votes Needed in Effort to Repeal Health Law
“Senate GOP leaders’ latest plan to vote on a measure repealing the Affordable Care Act was immediately derailed Tuesday when a trio of Republican senators refused to dismantle the 2010 health-care law without having a replacement in hand.”
“The ACA widened health coverage in the U.S. by about 20 million people by expanding the Medicaid program and setting up subsidies for people to buy health coverage on exchanges, paid for by taxes on medical companies and higher earners.”
“But it quickly became clear Tuesday that there likely wouldn’t be enough GOP support this week to pass a bill simply repealing the ACA without an agreement on what would supplant it, even with a two-year transition period included.”