Monday Round Up: "Increasing Uncertainty" Edition
A look at the headlines from this weekend shows the Senate TrumpCare bill is on life support. The GOP continues to be deeply divided, and they still don’t have the votes to pass it. It’s long past time for Republicans to abandon their flawed bill and work with Democrats to improve the Affordable Care Act.
Politico: Senate GOP returns from break no closer to Obamacare deal
“Senate Republicans appear miles away from their long-sought repeal of Obamacare, returning to Washington on Monday with just a few weeks to put the pieces back together before they could be forced to abandon their partisan attempts at a health care overhaul altogether.”
“At best, the repeal effort stayed stuck in neutral over the past nine days, several Republicans familiar with the ongoing negotiations said. At worst, the bill McConnell unveiled before the recess has little chance of being saved.
“‘My view is it’s probably going to be dead,’ Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said on ‘Face the Nation’ on Sunday.”
Washington Post: Senate Republicans head back to work with no health-care deal
“Senate Republicans returned to Washington from a holiday recess with new and deepening disagreements about their health-care bill, with key Republicans differing Sunday not merely on how to amend the bill, but also on whether a bill could pass at all.”
Washington Post: Republicans increasingly uncertain of a legislative victory before August
“The Republican Congress returns to Capitol Hill this week increasingly uncertain that a major legislative victory is achievable in the three weeks before lawmakers leave town for their month-long summer recess.”
“Most immediately, GOP leaders and President Trump are under enormous pressure to approve health-care legislation — but that is only the beginning. Virtually every piece of their ambitious legislative agenda is stalled, according to multiple Republicans inside and outside of Congress.”
“…[Senator] Blunt said that after weeks of stalled progress, Republicans soon must decide whether the bill is viable: ‘This does not get better over time, and we’re losing valuable time to get other things that we need to do as well.’”
Wall Street Journal: Following Recess, GOP Health-Care Push Gets Trickier
“Senate Republicans returning from a July 4 recess are so divided over a health-overhaul bill that they are also struggling to agree on what to do if they fail to pass their legislation.”
“The focus on possible steps to take if Senate Republicans can’t unite around a health bill is the strongest sign yet of the growing pessimism about the fate of the GOP legislation and the party’s seven-year pledge to topple the ACA. Some Republicans now say a vote to pass a bill could stretch beyond August, if there is a vote at all.”
Roll Call: Senate Returns No Closer to Health Care Deal
“Senate Republicans return to Washington, D.C., on Monday from a 10-day recess no closer to a deal on legislation to overhaul the U.S. health insurance system, with little time left on the calendar and other agenda items piling up.”
“But now, in the fallout of that abandoned timeline, more members are expressing concerns over the current draft, raising the stakes for the majority leader who is trying to live up to his reputation as a master deal-maker.”
“Should the current effort fail, McConnell appears ready to work with Democrats on a measure to help shore up the insurance markets ahead of the open enrollment period for 2018.”
The Hill: Republicans debate Plan B if ObamaCare repeal fails
“Senate Republicans are starting to consider what they should do if their ObamaCare replacement bill fails to pass.”
“Lawmakers are largely splitting into two camps: those who want to work with Democrats on a fix to the healthcare law, and those who want to simply pass a straight repeal of the law and work on a replacement later.”
“’If my side is unable to agree on an adequate replacement, then some kind of action with regard to private health insurance markets must occur,’ McConnell said.”
Los Angeles Times: With Senate Republicans at an impasse over Obamacare, many ask: Now what?
“Options are limited as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) assesses the legislative landscape for his Obamacare replacement, which has virtually no hope of passing unless it is substantially amended.”
“At the same time, GOP senators return to work aware that federal intervention is needed to stabilize some Obamacare insurance markets. If not, insurance premiums in some parts of the country could skyrocket, and many Americans — especially those in rural areas — could be left with few healthcare options.”
“But even senators are unsure of his next moves. And the heathcare legislation has shown the limits of his ability to cobble together the 50 votes needed from a 52-seat Senate GOP majority. Votes are not expected until mid-July, at the earliest.”