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Category: Health/Medical

Repeal Now, Replace Later?

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Yesterday evening, two more Republican Senators– Mike Lee of Utah and Jerry Moran of Kansas– jointly announced their opposition to the Senate healthcare bill that was being push forward by the Republican leadership.  Their statements increased the number of Senate Republicans opposing the bill to four, with Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky being the other two.  With all Democrats opposed to the bill, the announcements from Lee and Moran have forced Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to abandon his plans on the bill.

Last evening, Leader McConnell announced that, as a result, he will pursue a straight repeal of the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) with the repeal kicking in after two years to allow, in theory, lawmakers and the White House to draft and implement a new plan to prevent individuals from losing coverage.  It remains to be seen how much support such a strategy has.

Senate Floor Action on Healthcare Bill Delayed

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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced late Saturday that the Senate consideration of the revised healthcare legislation will be postponed.  Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) had a blood clot removed on Friday and is not expected to return to the Senate the week of July 17.  With two members who have already publicly declared their opposition to the measure, the Senate Republicans have no votes to spare.  Floor consideration of the bill will be delayed until Sen. McCain returns to Washington.

 

Text of New Senate Healthcare Bill Released

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As expected, the Senate Republicans released earlier today the text of the revised version of their healthcare legislation.  The bill language is available here.

It is unclear at this point whether this version will generate enough support for passage.  The previous version had to be pulled from consideration because of too much opposition from within the Republican conference.

Congress Returns to Town

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After its July Fourth recess, Congress returns to Washington for three weeks before leaving town for a scheduled five-week August recess.

The Senate Republicans are still trying to address intra-party differences on a “repeal and replace” healthcare bill.  In the House, the Appropriations Committee continues to press forward on its versions of FY2018 spending bills even as the assumed total amount of funding available for the bills will require changes to existing law; the Senate appropriators are also attempting to move their first bill this week as well.