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Groton Daily Independent
Monday, June 26, 2017 ~ Vol. 24 - No. 347 ~ 27 of 39
replace the law. The Democrat reiterated her opposition in a statement to The Associated Press on Sunday, saying the health care bill being pushed by Senate Republicans is a “monstrosity.”
In a tweet last week after Georgia’s special House election, Trump also criticized House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer. “I certainly hope the Democrats do not force Nancy P out. That would be very bad for the Republican Party — and please let Cryin’ Chuck stay!” he wrote.
In the broadcast interview, Trump did not indicate what types of changes to the Senate bill may be in store, but af rmed that he had described a House-passed bill as “mean.”
“I want to see a bill with heart,” he said, con rming a switch from his laudatory statements about the House bill at a Rose Garden ceremony with House GOP leaders last month. “Healthcare’s a very compli- cated subject from the standpoint that you move it this way, and this group doesn’t like it.”
“And honestly, nobody can be totally happy,” Trump said.
McConnell has said he’s willing to make changes to win support, and in the week ahead, plenty of back- room bargaining is expected. He is seeking to push a nal package through the Senate before the July 4 recess.
At least two GOP senators said Sunday that goal may prove too ambitious.
“I would like to delay,” said Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., one of the ve senators opposing the bill. “These bills aren’t going to x the problem. They’re not addressing the root cause,” he said, referring to rising health care costs. “They’re doing the same old Washington thing, throwing more money at the problem.”
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said seven to eight other senators including herself were troubled by provi- sions that she believes could cut Medicaid even more than the House version.
Collins, who also opposes proposed cuts to Planned Parenthood, said she would await an analysis Mon- day from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Of ce before taking a nal position on the bill. But she said it will be “extremely dif cult” for the White House to be able to nd a narrow path to attract both conservatives and moderates.
“It’s hard for me to see the bill passing this week,” Collins said.
Addressing reporters Sunday, the Senate’s No. 2 Republican said passing a health care bill won’t get any easier if Republican leaders delay a Senate vote on the GOP health care plan. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said there is “a sense of urgency” to push forward but acknowledged the outcome is “going to be close.”
He told reporters at a private gathering hosted by the libertarian Koch brothers in Colorado that Trump will be “important” in securing the nal votes.
“We’re trying to hold him back a little bit,” Cornyn said with a smile.
The Senate bill resembles legislation the House approved last month. A Congressional Budget Of ce analysis of the House measure predicts an additional 23 million people over the next decade would have no health care coverage, and recent polling shows only around 1 in 4 Americans views the House bill favorably.
The legislation would phase out extra federal money that more than 30 states receive for expanding Medicaid to additional low-income earners. It would also slap annual spending caps on the overall Medicaid program, which since its inception in 1965 has provided states with unlimited money to cover eligible costs.
Conservative Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said he is opposing the Senate bill because it “is not anywhere close to repeal” of the Affordable Care Act. He says the bill offers too many tax credits that help poorer people to buy insurance.
“If we get to impasse, if we go to a bill that is more repeal and less big government programs, yes, I’ll consider partial repeal,” he said. “I’m not voting for something that looks just like Obamacare.”
Trump said he thinks Republicans in the Senate are doing the best they can to push through the bill.
“I don’t think they’re that far off. Famous last words, right? But I think they’re going to get there,” Trump said of Republican Senate leaders. “We don’t have too much of a choice, because the alternative is the dead carcass of Obamacare.”
Schumer said Democrats have been clear they will cooperate with Republicans if they agree to drop a repeal of the Affordable Care Act and instead work to improve it. Still, Schumer acknowledged it was too