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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 9 May 2017

Health care fight shifts to Senate, where GOP wants a reboot

By ALAN FRAM tax credits. Thune and oth-
Associated Press ers want the subsidies to be
WASHINGTON (AP) — It more generous for lower
took plenty of blood, sweat earners and older people,
and tears for Republican who could also face far
leaders to finally push their higher premiums under the
health care bill through the House legislation.
House last week. Don’t ex- In addition, the special pro-
pect the process to be less cess Republicans are using
complicated in the Sen- requires that legislative pro-
ate, though more of the visions be related to raising
angst in that more deco- or decreasing the federal
rous chamber will likely be deficit, and not primarily
behind closed doors. driven by policy changes.
No one expects a new bill Conservative health care
to be written quickly, but analyst James Capretta
Senate Majority Leader says the odds for survival
Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., “are low” for House lan-
has started a process for guage letting states permit
producing one. Republi- insurers to boost premiums
can senators have made on some people with pre-
clear their measure will existing conditions.
differ markedly from the Also in jeopardy: a provi-
House legislation, which Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., speaks during a media availability following a sion forbidding consumers
has drawn withering criti- policy luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington. to use federal subsidies to
cism from Democrats who (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) buy insurance covering
see it as a pathway to win- abortion.
ning a House majority in oppose the Republican an expansion they want to licans whose states dislike The Senate parliamentari-
the 2018 elections. effort to repeal much of protect but the House bill the House’s Medicaid cuts an will decide whether any
“This process will not be President Barack Obama’s would end. Gardner chairs because they’d face a provisions must be stricken
quick or simple or easy, but health care overhaul. So the Senate GOP’s cam- wave of constituents losing from the bill. The Senate
it must be done,” McCon- Republicans are using a paign committee. coverage under the health could override that with 60
nell said Monday. special process preventing Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, care program for the poor. votes.
MCCONNELL’S GROUP a Democratic filibuster that and Mike Lee, R-Utah, are The House would end the POLITICAL ERUPTION
McConnell doesn’t like sur- would require 60 votes to conservative firebrands extra federal money states The pro-Democratic group
prises or drama. Both char- end. McConnell will need who represent states that get for new beneficiaries Save Our Care is running
acterized the House’s cha- 50 GOP votes to pass a bill, didn’t expand Medicaid under Obama’s Medicaid ads in 24 districts whose
otic four months of work on a tie Vice President Mike but want additional funds expansion by 2020, and GOP House members
its bill, which saw revolts by Pence could break. for that program. Sens. some GOP senators want backed the bill asking,
conservatives and moder- That means McConnell can John Cornyn, R-Texas, John a delay. Much Medicaid “How could you do this to
ates derail initial versions lose just two Republicans, Thune, R-S.D., and John money is used to combat us?” Obama urged law-
of the legislation and hu- so his group has a strategi- Barrasso, R-Wyo., are in the the illegal use of addictive makers to use “courage”
miliate President Donald cally shaped membership. Senate GOP leadership, opioid drugs. That’s anoth- to protect health care for
Trump and Speaker Paul THE GROUP’S ROSTER and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., is er reason for GOP senators poorer Americans, a rare
Ryan, R-Wis. Sens. Lamar Alexander, R- an ambitious up-and-com- from hard-hit Midwestern public comment on public
McConnell has included Tenn., Mike Enzi, R-Idaho, er who frequently criticizes and Northeastern states to policy since leaving office.
himself in a group of 12 and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the House measure. oppose such cuts. Underscoring political sen-
GOP senators essentially chair pivotal committees. Democrats and liberal Obama’s law help millions sitivities, critics attacked
tasked with privately pro- Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, activists have lambasted buy private insurance with Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Ida-
ducing a bill that can pass and Cory Gardner, R-Co- McConnell for appointing federal subsidies geared ho, for saying at a town
the Senate. Republicans lo., are from states that a group with no female to income and policy pre- hall meeting that “nobody
control the chamber 52-48. used Obama’s law to add members. miums. The House instead dies” from lack of health
Democrats are virtually hundreds of thousands of POSSIBLE CHANGES links its aid to age, with care. He later said that
certain to unanimously beneficiaries to Medicaid, Portman is among Repub- older people getting larger “wasn’t very elegant.”q