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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 18 OctOber 2017
Senators reach short-term health deal; Trump may approve

then: “For one year, two and employer mandate”
years, we’re going to have — the central pillars of
a very good solution.” Obamacare.
Trump’s position may seem That suggested some dis-
contradictory in that he agreement within the ad-
himself ordered an end ministration on the issue.
to the payments, calling Initially as president, Trump
them a bailout, but is now continued making the
encouraging legislation to payments though resist-
reinstitute them. ing, but he declared last
Indeed White House offi- week he would pull the
cials had said they would plug. The payments, which
want more in exchange cost around $7 billion this
than the additional state year, lower expenses like
flexibility offered in the co-payments and deduct-
Alexander-Murray agree- ibles for more than 6 million
ment. people.
Just minutes before Al- But discontinuing them
exander announced the would actually cost the
deal, White House legisla- government more money
tive director Marc Short under Obamacare’s com-
emerged from the Senate plicated structure, be-
GOP lunch saying that “a cause some people fac-
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., left, arrives with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., second from right, and starting point” in exchange ing higher premiums would
Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of N.Y., right, to speak to reporters on Capitol Hill in
Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017, after Murray and Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., say they for restoring the cost-shar- end up getting bigger tax
have the “basic outlines” of a bipartisan deal to resume payments to health insurers that President ing payments “is eliminat- subsidies to help pay for
Donald Trump has blocked. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) ing the individual mandate them.q
Continued from Front ing able to buy insurance
in counties where they
Without that money, premi- live,” Alexander said in an-
ums for some people buy- nouncing the deal after a
ing individual health plans closed-door lunch where
would spike, and some in- he presented it to GOP
surers would flee the mar- senators.
kets, industry officials warn. “This agreement avoids
The Alexander-Murray deal chaos. I don’t know a Re-
would continue the insurer publican or Democrat who
payments for two years, benefits from chaos,” he
while establishing new flexi- said.
bility for states under former Alexander said the presi-
President Barack Obama’s dent had encouraged his
law. efforts in phone calls over
“This would allow the Sen- the past two weeks. And
ate to continue its debate at the White House, Trump
about the long term of responded positively, ex-
health care, but over the pressing optimism that
next two years I think Amer- Republicans would ulti-
icans won’t have to worry mately succeed in repeal-
about the possibility of be- ing Obamacare, but until

Senate moves ahead on GOP

budget that’s critical to taxes

By ANDREW TAYLOR on a party-line vote of 50-
Associated Press 47.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The The plan breaks with long-
Senate is moving ahead on standing promises by top
a Republican budget plan, Republicans like Senate
a critical step in President Majority Leader Mitch Mc-
Donald Trump and the Connell and Speaker Paul
party’s politically impera- Ryan that the upcoming
tive drive to cut taxes and tax drive won’t add to the
simplify the IRS code. nation’s $20 trillion debt.
The nonbinding budget Once the budget plan
plan would permit Repub- passes through the GOP-
licans to pass follow-up controlled Congress, the
tax cuts later this year that House and Senate can
would cost up to $1.5 trillion then advance a follow-up
over the coming decade. tax overhaul measure with-
The plan cleared a proce- out fear of a filibuster by
dural hurdle in the Senate Senate Democrats.q