Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 26 May 2017

GOP senators say tough report complicates health care bill

fiscal experts. the Medicaid program
Congress now begins a for lower-income and dis-
week-long recess, with abled people.
GOP senators still hunting Senate Republicans have
for a health-care overhaul been holding private
plan that can win the sup- meetings to narrow differ-
port of no less than 50 of ences and produce their
their 52 members. own health care package.
While the analysis of the They’ve said it will differ
House-passed plan simply markedly from the House
gives senators a numerical measure, including easing
starting point for their own some Medicaid reductions
work, it also made the Re- and focusing tax credits for
publican health care drive buying coverage more at
a fatter target for Demo- poorer people.
cratic attacks. And it high- The No. 2 Senate GOP
lighted how some provi- leader, John Cornyn of
sions in the House bill would Texas, expressed optimism
produce damaging conse- that senators were narrow-
quences for many people. ing differences and said
“The bottom line is very staff could “start work” over
simple. Unless you’re a the recess on writing some
healthy millionaire, Trump- language of a Senate bill,

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah talk to a reporter as he steps onto the Capitol Subway on Capitol Hill in care is a nightmare,” said but he conceded, “There’s
Washington. Republicans senators conceded Thursday that a scathing analysis of the House GOP Senate Minority Leader nothing final.”
health care bill had complicated their effort to dismantle President Barack Obama’s health care Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Senate Finance Commit-
law. “And I think that’s why our tee Chairman Orrin Hatch,
(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Republican colleagues are R-Utah, said, “We’re still a
By ALAN FRAM fort to dismantle President 23 million Americans to lose having such trouble putting ways away from having so-
RICARDO ZALDIVAR Barack Obama’s health coverage by 2026 and cre- together their own bill.” lutions here.”
Associated Press care law. ate prohibitively expensive The House bill would relax That’s prompted increased
WASHINGTON (AP) — Re- “It makes everything hard- costs for many others. many of the Obama stat- talk of possibly breaking out
publicans senators con- er and more difficult,” Sen. “There’s blinking yellow ute’s consumer protec- a less ambitious bill aimed
ceded Thursday that a Dean Heller, R-Nev., said of lights throughout the whole tions, kill its mandate that at keeping insurance mar-
scathing analysis of the a Congressional Budget Of- thing,” Sen. Patrick Toom- people buy coverage, trim kets stable over the next
House GOP health care bill fice analysis projecting that ey, R-Pa., said of the report federal subsidies for insur- two years, Republicans say.
had complicated their ef- the House bill would cause by lawmakers’ nonpartisan ance purchasers and cut q
At Press Time:
GOP House hopeful keeps low profile after assault charge

By BOBBY CAINA CALVAN paign headquarters in Boz- Many see the closely of the state’s registered “I don’t think it probably
Associated Press eman. watched election as a ref- voters had cast absentee changed very many minds
BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — A Gianforte, a millionaire erendum on the policies ballots before polls opened or votes today, unfortu-
Republican congressio- tech entrepreneur who and practices of Trump. Thursday. nately,” said voter Pat-
nal candidate in Montana has aligned himself with Democratic Gov. Steve Three of Montana’s biggest rick Paradis, who supports
charged with shoving a re- President Donald Trump, Bullock, who defeated newspapers pulled their Democrat Rob Quist. “Poli-
porter to the ground on the said the reporter was being Gianforte in November’s endorsements of Gianforte tics are pretty entrenched
eve of a special election aggressive and grabbed election, called Wednes- — without endorsing his op- right now in terms of who
kept a low profile Thursday him by the wrist at his cam- day’s events “another ponent — while leaders of people are going to follow
even as supporters pre- paign office. wake up call to all Montan- both major parties called and who people are going
pared a hotel ballroom for The altercation occurred ans and Americans that we on him to apologize. to vote for.”
a possible victory party. hours before voters went to must restore civility in poli- House Speaker Paul Ryan, Gianforte was preparing for
Greg Gianforte was the polls to decide whether tics and governing.” a Republican, said what an interview with Fox News
charged with misdemean- Gianforte or Democrat Rob Republicans have held the occurred was “wrong and on Wednesday at a private
or assault after witnesses Quist will fill the U.S. House state’s lone congressional should not happen.” House office when Ben Jacobs, a
said he grabbed a reporter seat vacated by Ryan Zin- seat for two decades. Minority Leader Nancy Pe- reporter for The Guardian,
by the neck on Wednes- ke, a Republican who is It wasn’t clear how the last- losi, a Democrat, called came in without permis-
day and threw him to the now Trump’s Interior secre- minute melee would affect Gianforte “a wannabe sion, campaign spokesman
ground at Gianforte’s cam- tary. the race. More than a third Trump.” Shane Scanlon said.q