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A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 20 september 2017
One last chance: GOP strains for Obamacare repeal votes
By ERICA WERNER and replace them with
Associated Press block grants to the states
WASHINGTON (AP) — Time so they could make their
growing short, President own health care coverage
Donald Trump and Repub- rules.
lican Senate leaders dove “Governors and state legis-
into a frantic hunt for votes lators of both parties would
Tuesday in a last-ditch ef- have both the opportunity
fort to repeal and replace and the responsibility to
“Obamacare.” The pres- help make quality and af-
sure was intense, the out- fordable health care avail-
come uncertain in a Capi- able to their citizens in a
tol newly engulfed in dra- way that works for their
ma over health care. own particular states,” Mc-
Senate Majority Leader Connell said on the Senate
Mitch McConnell, whose floor. “It’s an intriguing idea
failure to pass an Obam- and one that has a great
acare repeal bill in July deal of support.”
opened a bitter public rift Democrats are unanimous-
with Trump, pressed hard ly opposed, arguing that
for the newly revived ef- the legislation would result
fort, which had been left in millions of Americans los-
for dead as recently as a ing their health insurance,
week or two ago. But in a Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaks to the media, accompanied by Senate Majority Whip Sen. decrease access to afford-
sign he remained short of John Cornyn, R-Texas, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., and Senate Majority Leader able care and damage
votes, McConnell refused Mitch McConnell of Ky., on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017, in Washington. the Medicaid health pro-
to commit to bringing the (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) gram for the poor.
legislation to the floor. cus was on Arizona Sen. step back in line with fel- there was a bill co-written So McConnell must win the
As in July, much of the fo- John McCain. Would he low Republicans now that by Lindsey Graham of votes of 50 of the 52 Senate
South Carolina, his best Republicans. That would
friend in the Senate? Mc- amount to victory in the
Cain wasn’t saying. Lisa 100-member Senate, be-
Murkowski of Alaska, an- cause GOP Vice President
other crucial vote, wasn’t Mike Pence would then
disclosing her views either. break a tie.
Republicans must act by Pence appeared at the
Sept. 30 in the Senate, or Capitol Tuesday and de-
face the prospect of a clared the Trump adminis-
Democratic filibuster. That tration was “all-in” on the
blocking action is cur- effort.
rently staved off by bud- The president himself was
get rules that will expire at closely in touch with Gra-
the end of the fiscal year. ham and others.
The new legislation, by If the bill does pass, Speaker
Graham and Sen. Bill Cas- Paul Ryan has committed
sidy of Louisiana, would to pushing it through the
undo the central pillars of House as-is, and straight to
former President Barack the president’s desk, ac-
Obama’s health care law, cording to Graham. q
Senate GOP tentatively agrees
to $1.5 trillion plan on tax cuts
By ANDREW TAYLOR chamber’s more ardent
Associated Press believers that tax cuts can
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen- pay for themselves, said
ate Republicans are zero- they sealed an agreement
ing in on a tax outline that on Tuesday.
would add about $1.5 tril- The $1.5 trillion figure, con-
lion to the government’s firmed by congressional
$20 trillion debt over 10 officials familiar with the
years, justifying the spurt agreement, would allow
of red ink with promises of deeper cuts to tax rates
surging economic growth than would be allowed
and a burst of new reve- if Republicans followed
nues. through on earlier prom-
Tennessee Sen. Bob Cork- ises that their upcoming
er, a member of the cham- tax overhaul wouldn’t
ber’s dwindling band of add to the deficit. It’s like-
deficit hawks, and Sen. Pat ly to be announced on
Toomey, R-Pa., one of the Wednesday.q
