{"articles":[{"id":683,"title":"UPDATED: Quick, Tough Opposition to New GOP Healthcare Bill","html_content":"

by Causes | 6.26.17

It only took a few hours. On Thursday morning, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell finally briefed GOP Senators on Republicans' privately-negotiated healthcare bill, only to find that, within hours, there was stiff resistance among key lawmakers.

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As of Monday morning there are five Senate Republicans who have expressed deep concerns about the proposal, and declared publicly that they cannot and will not vote for it. Four are conservatives- Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Rand Paul (R-KY), Mike Lee (R-UT) and Ron Johnson (R-WI).

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The fifth is moderate Dean Heller (R-NV). Heller and Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval held a news conference Friday. Heller maintains that 200,000 Nevadans that are now insured would lose their coverage if the bill passes, a move he can't support. Heller's seat is one of the most hotly contested in the upcoming 2018 midterms.

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Five more Republican lawmakers have serious questions about the legislation, though they haven't yet stated firm opposition. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Rob Portman (R-OH) have raised questions about the bill's effects on Medicaid. Collins and Murkowski have also historically rejected the defunding of Planned Parenthood.

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[For key facts on the actual policy, check out Countable's summary of the bill, and its effect on Medicaid.]

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Now, GOP Leader McConnell faces some hard math: it'll take 51 votes for the bill to pass, and there are exactly 52 Republicans in the Senate. Not a single Democrat is expected to vote for the measure, because it rolls-back key parts of former President Obama's Affordable Care Act.

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That means McConnell can only afford to lose 2 votes from among his party's Senators. Why two? Because Republicans have the slight advantage of having a GOP \"President of the Senate,\" better known as the Vice President of the United States, Mike Pence. In the event of an even tie -- meaning Senate Republicans get only 50 votes for their healthcare proposal -- Pence could be called-in to cast a tie-breaking vote.

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The four conservative senators who openly oppose the GOP proposal say it doesn't go far enough in repealing Obamacare. The measure does cut Medicaid, reform Medicare, roll-back taxes in the health system and end the mandate that all Americans buy health insurance.

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But these opposing senators are dismayed that many of the Affordable Care Act's provisions would remain in place, including the mandate that insurance companies accept customers with pre-existing conditions, and that young adults be allowed to stay on their parents' policies until age 26.

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Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) said,

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“Victory will be enacting reforms that repeal Obamacare and substantially reduce premiums so that families who are struggling can afford health insurance.”
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That leaves GOP Leader McConnell with a delicate balancing act: tweak the proposal to placate Senators who want a broader repeal of Obamacare and lose the support of moderate Republicans. Change the bill's effects on Medicaid and lose the members who want repeal.

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For his part, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) said,

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“I think there is a way to placate both. I want 100 percent repeal, but I would probably accept some percentage of repeal, but we have to be working in that direction. It’s not a good sign when we’re keeping most of the Obamacare subsidies if not more.”

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Now is the time to make your voice heard. Hit the Take Action button to contact your Senators!

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-- Matt Laslo

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(Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr)

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