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Swordsmyth
05-26-2018, 04:40 PM
Congressional Republicans appear poised to take another shot at repealing and replacing ObamaCare -- this, during a critical, election year in which Democrats are blaming the GOP for escalating health insurance costs.
A coalition of conservative groups have for months purportedly been working behind the scenes to draft a measure that would pass in Congress, and more specifically one that would garner some bipartisan support and get through the Senate, where the repeal-replace effort led by President Trump and practically every elected Republican in Washington failed in July 2017.
Several people familiar with the new effort said this week that they have senators ready to sponsor the legislation and expressed confidence that their state-based plan will pass where others have failed.


The full details of the new repeal-replace effort by the coalition -- known as the Health Policy Consensus Group -- are expected to be released soon, according to The Wall Street Journal. (http://www.wsj.com)
However, the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, which has helped spearhead the effort, has already put out a “path forward” document on health care in 2018 that appears to be the legislative blueprint.
The highlights include lowering costs and improving patient choices, giving states wide flexibility in offering plans, and establishing “federal guardrails” so Americans can choose private coverage if they don’t like the state options.
The foundation also says the “new path” would build on the reform plan offered last year by GOP Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina; Bill Cassidy of Louisiana; Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, and Dean Heller of Nevada.
The plan is also reportedly backed by former Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Rick Santorum and was crafted with the help of the American Enterprise Institute and the Galen Institute.
Sources said last week that the plan would include financial help to low-income residents, an effort that could help garner some Democratic support, especially from senators facing re-election in swing states or conservative-leaning ones.

More at: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/05/26/conservative-groups-congressional-republicans-appear-poised-for-another-try-at-obamacare-repeal.html

Zippyjuan
05-26-2018, 04:48 PM
Doubtful. If they try to use "reconciliation" which allows for a simple majority to pass (51 in the Senate), it cannot address all of Obamacare, only spending provisions. Otherwise it will take 60 votes to get through the Senate to avoid any possible filibuster. If McCain is out that leaves them with 50 possible votes and Rand Paul again votes "no", it won't pass reconciliation.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/healthcare/doubts-swirl-about-senate-effort-to-revive-obamacare-repeal


“We don’t have the votes,” he said. “Yes, we are talking about this, but there is a lot that has to happen for it to be more than just talking.”

Other Republicans conceded the same problem.

“The tough thing is we only have 50 Republicans votes right now,” said Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D.

Republicans control 51 seats in the Senate, but Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has been out recuperating from treatments for brain cancer. Republicans are also down a senator from last year with Democrat Doug Jones’ surprise win in Alabama.

Republicans have 50 votes currently because of McCain’s absence and “as a rule, Sen. [Rand] Paul votes no," Cassidy said.

Paul, R-Ky., said he still opposes the Graham-Cassidy bill and opposed Graham’s revival to bring up repeal again.

"I am not in favor of keeping the taxes in place and shifting it to the states," Paul told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday. “I am completely opposed to what he is doing, and I think it is wrong."


Reconciliation bills must focus on budgetary and spending levels.

Republicans tried to use the maneuver to repeal Obamacare last year, but efforts to repeal the law’s insurer regulations ran afoul of the Senate parliamentarian, which determines if a bill meets reconciliation requirements.

kcchiefs6465
05-26-2018, 10:03 PM
The foundation also says the “new path” would build on the reform plan offered last year by GOP Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina; Bill Cassidy of Louisiana; Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, and Dean Heller of Nevada.

The plan is also reportedly backed by former Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Rick Santorum and was crafted with the help of the American Enterprise Institute and the Galen Institute.
Riveting.

"Reform plan" should have been in quotes.

Pauls' Revere
05-26-2018, 10:50 PM
Riveting.

"Reform plan" should have been in quotes.

Just in time for mid term elections.

TheCount
05-27-2018, 03:44 AM
They're probably rather confident that it won't pass, and so it'll be strategic voting down the line... everyone votes what polls say their district's feeling-of-the-day is on the issue... and if there's no clear consensus, they'll abstain.

angelatc
05-27-2018, 02:10 PM
If they try to use "reconciliation" which allows for a simple majority to pass (51 in the Senate), it cannot address all of Obamacare.

ANd this is why the Democrats will continue to Lord over us. They manged to get Obamacare passed without actually having the votes, but the GOP can't undo it the same way, because they suck.