Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 23 June 2017

Senate GOP unveils ‘Obamacare’ overhaul, but not all aboard

By ALAN FRAM and RICAR- Paul, Mike Lee of Utah and
DO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR Ron Johnson from Wiscon-
Associated Press sin. They said the measure
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen- falls short, missing “the most
ate Republicans launched important promise that we
their plan for shriveling made to Americans: to re-
Barack Obama’s health peal Obamacare and low-
care law Thursday, edging er their health care costs.”
a step closer to their dream On the other hand, Sens.
of repeal with a bill that Dean Heller of Nevada,
would slice and reshape facing a competitive 2018
Medicaid for the poor, re- re-election battle, and
lax rules on insurers and Shelley Moore Capito of
end tax increases on higher West Virginia expressed
earners that have helped concerns about the bill’s
finance expanded cover- Medicaid cuts. And Susan
age for millions. Collins of Maine reiterated
Four conservative GOP sen- her opposition to language
ators quickly announced blocking federal money
initial opposition to the for Planned Parenthood,
measure and others were which many Republicans
evasive, raising the spec- oppose because it pro-
ter of a jarring rejection by vides abortions.
the Republican-controlled Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., joined by, from left, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., At the White House, Trump
body. But Senate Major- Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., and Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, speaks following a closed-door called Democrats “ob-
ity Leader Mitch McCon- strategy session, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, June 20, 2017. structionists” for opposing
nell, R-Ky., indicated he Associated Press the measure and added,
was open to discussion doors, potentially moving at the heart of the bill was erous subsidies for people “We’ll hopefully get some-
and seemed determined President Donald Trump “fundamental meanness.” than Obama’s law but thing done and it will be
to muscle the measure and the GOP a step closer The bill would end provide billions to states something with heart and
through his chamber next to achieving perhaps their Obama’s tax penalties on and insurance companies very meaningful.”
week. greatest goal — repealing people who don’t buy in- to buttress markets that Obama was more than
Release of the 142-page former President Obama’s surance — effectively end- in some areas have been skeptical.
proposal ended the long 2010 statute, his proudest ing the so-called individual abandoned by insurers. “If there’s a chance you
wait for one of the most domestic legacy. mandate — and on larger McConnell must navigate might get sick, get old or
closely guarded bills in At the White House, Trump companies that don’t offer a narrow route in which start a family, this bill will
years. McConnell stitched spoke of a bill “with heart.” coverage to their workers. defections by just three of do you harm,” he wrote.
it together behind closed On Facebook, Obama said It would provide less gen- the 52 Republican sena- He said “small tweaks” dur-
tors would doom the legis- ing the upcoming debate
lation. He and others said “cannot change the fun-
the measure would make damental meanness at the
health insurance more af- core of this legislation.”
fordable and eliminate The House approved its ver-
Obama coverage require- sion of the bill last month.
ments that some people Though Trump lauded its
find onerous. passage in a Rose Garden
Located in the Riu Antilles Resort (Formerly the Westin Resort) “We have to act,” McCon- ceremony, he called the
FREE TRANSPORTATION TO THE CASINO FROM ALL nell said. “Because Obam- House measure “mean”
HIGH RISE AND LOW RISE HOTELS AND TIMESHARES. acare is a direct attack last week.
CALL 525-7777 FOR MORE INFORMATION on the middle class, and The nonpartisan Congres-
American families deserve sional Budget Office said
LIVE POKER better than its failing status under the House bill, 23 mil-
quo.”
lion fewer people would
Democrats said the mea- have coverage by 2026.
GAMES START 8 PM TO THE WEE HOURS sure would result in skimpier The budget office analysis
policies and higher out-of- of the Senate measure is
pocket costs for many and expected early next week.
1-2.....2-5......5-5 1-3.....2-5......5-5 erode gains made under The Senate legislation
$100 HIGH HAND BONUSES EVERY HOUR Obama that saw roughly drew support from the U.S.
OVER $20,000 PER WEEK GIVEN OUT IN HIGH HAND BONUSES 20 million additional Ameri- Chamber of Commerce,
cans gain coverage.
which said it would “sta-
CRAPS “We live in the wealthiest bilize crumbling insurance
country on earth. Surely we markets” and curb premi-
ONLY CASINO IN ARUBA TO OFFER 3, 4 & 5 TIME ODDS can do better than what um increases. But medical
the Republican health care groups announced opposi-
bill promises,” said Sen- tion, saying it would dimin-
SPORTSBOOK ate Minority Leader Chuck ish coverage. They include
Schumer, D-N.Y.
the American Academy of
LIVE SIMULCAST OF ALL MAJOR TRACKS Four conservative senators Pediatrics and America’s
expressed opposition but Essential Hospitals, whose
THROUGHOBRED AND HARNESS openness to talks: Ted Cruz members treat many poor
of Texas, Kentucky’s Rand patients.