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U.S. NEWS Monday 8 May 2017

Trump tries to pressure Senate Republicans on health care

will punish the GOP in the policies and erase its taxes sociation, opposed the
2018 elections for upend- on health industry busi- House bill. Democrats are
ing former President Barack nesses and higher earners. also refusing to participate
Obama’s law. “I think that It would dilute consumer- in any effort to dismantle
the Republican Party will friendly insurance cover- Obama’s law, while some
be rewarded,” said Re- age requirements, like pro- Republican senators — Rob
ince Priebus, Trump’s chief hibiting higher premiums Portman of Ohio, Shelley
of staff. House Democratic for customers with pre-exist- Moore Capito of West Vir-
leader Nancy Pelosi of Cali- ing medical conditions and ginia, Cory Gardner of Col-
fornia has threatened that watering down the subsi- orado and Lisa Murkowski
GOP lawmakers will “glow dies that help consumers of Alaska — object to cut-
in the dark” over their vote. afford health insurance. ting Medicaid, the federal-
The House bill would end Major medical and oth- state health care program
the health care law’s fines er groups, including the for the poor and disabled.
on people who don’t buy American Medical As- q
Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price speaks in the
Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, after the House
pushed through a health care bill. Cutting nearly $1 trillion from
Medicaid will give states the freedom to tailor the program to
suit their needs, Price said Sunday, May 7, as he defended a
narrowly passed House bill that aims to undo parts of the health
care law enacted by the previous administration.
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE budget director, also said
Associated Press the version that gets to the
BRANCHBURG, N.J. (AP) — president will likely differ
President Donald Trump from the House measure.
urged Senate Republicans Such a scenario would
on Sunday to “not let the then force the House and
American people down,” Senate to work together
as the contentious debate to forge a compromise bill
over overhauling the U.S. that both houses can sup-
health care systems shifts to port.
Congress’ upper chamber, Collins also complained
where a vote is potentially that the House rushed a
weeks, if not months, away. vote before the Congres-
Some senators have al- sional Budget Office could
ready voiced displeasure complete its cost-benefit
with the health care bill analysis.
that cleared the House last Eager to check off a top
week, with Republicans campaign promise, Trump
providing all the “yes” votes sought Sunday to pressure
in the 217-213 count. They Senate Republicans on the
cited concerns about po- issue.
tential higher costs for older “Republican senators will
people and those with pre- not let the American peo-
existing conditions, along ple down!” Trump tweeted
with cuts to Medicaid. from his private golf course
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, in central New Jersey,
a moderate Republican where he has stayed since
whose vote will be critical late Thursday. “Obam-
to getting a bill to Trump’s aCare premiums and de-
desk and who voiced simi- ductibles are way up — it
lar concerns, said the Sen- was a lie and it is dead!”
ate would not take up the Trump has said the current
House bill. system is failing as insurers
“The Senate is starting from pull out of markets, forcing
scratch. We’re going to costs and deductibles to
draft our bill, and I’m con- rise.
vinced we will take the The White House on Sun-
time to do it right,” she said. day scoffed at Demo-
Mick Mulvaney, Trump’s cratic claims that voters