Senate Republicans are on the cusp of passing a bill that will eliminate hundreds of billions of dollars worth of health funding, destabilize insurance markets, and eventually phase out Medicaid in its entirety. Less than two months after three Republican senators stopped an earlier effort to strip away much of America’s health care safety net, millions of Americans’ health care is now in very serious peril.
The new Trumpcare legislation — often referred to as “Graham-Cassidy” after Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA), its leading proponents — contains several provisions undercutting the Affordable Care Act. It eliminates subsidies helping many millions of Americans purchase health insurance on the Obamacare exchanges and Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion, replacing this funding with a less generous block grant to states.
Then, this block grant abruptly disappears in 2027, leaving many millions of Americans with nothing.
The Trump Administration is pushing hard to get this one passed.
Courtesy of Axios:
Vice President Mike Pence is throwing the Trump administration’s weight behind the latest Affordable Care Act repeal bill — and against a bipartisan effort to stabilize the marketplaces. In an interview on Air Force Two, Pence told me he’ll call on all Senate Republicans to support the bill by Sens. Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy at a lunch meeting this afternoon, saying, "this is the moment. Now is the time.”
The bottom line: It’s likely coming down to the votes of Sens. John McCain and Lisa Murkowski, two of the Republican holdouts (the others are Susan Collins and Rand Paul). Graham, who was on the flight with Pence, told me McCain will speak for himself — but added with a knowing smile that he feels good about McCain’s vote.
I have already made my phone call to Lisa Murkowski and I encourage others to contact their Senators as well.
It might provide some solace to know that there are heroes out there fighting the good fight.
Courtesy of The Hill:
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) says Democrats are willing to jam up the Senate to stop the GOP's latest ObamaCare repeal bill.
“We’re going to look at every possible way to slow this bill down," Schumer said during a Monday press conference.
Mostly powerless to set the legislative agenda in the minority, Democrats have some delaying tactics at their disposal.
These Democrats deserve words of encouragement as well, so if you have a Democrat for a Senator they might also enjoy hearing from you.
Ultimately I hope that we are working our way toward single payer, but until then we need to fight tooth and nail to hang on to Obamacare for as long as we can.
This thing is worse than any repeal bill they've come up with so far. It's despicable. Meanwhile the corrupt HHS Secretary, Tom Price, took five chartered flights last week at $20K a pop. One was from D.C. To Philadelphia. 125 miles.
ReplyDeleteCan't spare any expense when you're campaigning to screw poor people out of Medicaid coverage.
1st year of life only...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.politicususa.com/2017/09/20/jimmy-kimmels-shredding-graham-cassidy-explanation-america-hear.html
It's all about the money - the repugs financial overloads have shut down the money until they pass laws that screw every American (except the very very very wealthy)
ReplyDeleteKoch network 'piggy banks' closed until Republicans pass health and tax reform
Koch officials said that the network’s midterm budget for policy and politics is between $300m and $400m, but donors are demanding legislative progress
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jun/26/koch-network-piggy-banks-closed-republicans-healthcare-tax-reform
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/graham-cassidy-bill-would-cut-funding-to-34-states-new-report-shows/2017/09/20/48741d92-9d58-11e7-9083-fbfddf6804c2_story.html?utm_term=.943fed9a33df
ReplyDeletedRUMPF>endorsed the latest plan by congressional Republicans to gut Obamacare while a sponsor of the bill faced blistering criticism from comedian Jimmy Kimmel who said the senator "lied right to my face" about it.
ReplyDeleteTrump, on Twitter, called the measure sponsored by Republican Senators Bill Cassidy and Lindsey Graham "GREAT," adding: "I hope Republican Senators will vote for Graham-Cassidy and fulfill their promise to Repeal & Replace ObamaCare. MonEy direct to $tates!"
https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2017-09-20/trump-endorses-latest-republican-bill-to-dismantle-obamacare
I hope, the Dems can stop these vile a$$holes until the end of this month. After that, the RePUKES need again 60 votes, which will be impossible.
ReplyDeleteIt's not the Dems. It's a few moral and ethical Republicans that we need to vote NO.
DeleteWhat we need is Dem VOTERS to kick the Republicans out of their seats and take them. So far, that isn't happening.
OT: http://www.salon.com/2017/09/20/the-trump-doctrine-only-i-can-fix-the-world/
ReplyDelete"Global Carnage."
Tinydjt>"The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea. Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime. The United States is ready, willing, and able, but hopefully this will not be necessary. That's what the United Nations is all about. That's what the United Nations is for. Let's see how they do."
"He demanded that North Korea "denuclearize" and said that ensuring that outcome is what
"the United Nations is all about."
He wants to "see how they do,"
""America First" really means "Trump First."
He is the sovereign"
http://www.un.org/en/sections/what-we-do/index.html
http://www.un.org/en/sections/history/history-united-nations/index.html
I heard TrumpCare expires upon the namesake's impeachment, until he quits in December 2017 or until Rocketman eliminates him?
ReplyDeleteOcT:"Trump, in short, is wielding a Soprano touch on American institutions. “I’m fucking King Midas in reverse here,” Tony Soprano once told his therapist.
ReplyDelete“Everything I touch turns to $hit.”
" Trump has been almost entirely blocked from violating laws or the Constitution. The courts, the press, the bureaucracy, civil society, and even Congress have together robustly enforced the RULE OF LAW"
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/10/will-donald-trump-destroy-the-presidency/537921/
Fact
ReplyDelete31 voter frauds in 1 Billion votes
1 Trillion $ waisted on
'War on Drugs'
could have funded Colleges.
The 'DARE' program failed tOO.
NOW 't'his^ fOOl$
The Democrats need to gum up the schedule so this thing never even comes to a vote.
ReplyDeleteLike an old fashioned filibuster. The original way with talking and talking and talking and refusing to yield the floor except to a colleague who then takes over the filibuster.
Basically stop all business and run out the clock.
But they won't. They'll just wring their hands and "hope."
McConnell controls the floor . They are in the majority and the bill is coming up under reconciliation, which is filibuster-proof. People in Alaska need to kick their two Republican senators in the ass. not make fantasy demands on Democrats. And in the next election throw out the Republicans.
DeleteI'm talking about any business that comes up BEFORE the bill. And they are supposed to yield to a "point of order". That takes precedence over a vote. You telling me there isn't a Dem smart enough to find a way to get a point of order in before the vote, then keep talking along with his lined up buddies until the clock runs out?
DeleteYeah, they are too polite by far.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/obama-blasts-aggravating-gop-plans-repeal-obamacare-183328979.html
ReplyDelete" “It’s certainly frustrating to have to mobilize every couple of months to keep our leaders from inflicting real human suffering on our constituents.”"
There is now a bipartisan group of 10 state Governors that have signed on to a letter objecting to the Graham-Cassidy bill and coming out publicly against it.
ReplyDeleteNot Arizona, of course. That Governor is all for it, sending a not so subtle message to John McCain. What he thinks he can actually do to McCain if he votes no, I'm not sure.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/governors-oppose-obamacare-repeal_us_59c156fde4b0f22c4a8d0d29?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009
Delete"A bipartisan group of governors urged Senate leaders Tuesday against considering the latest attempt to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, calling instead for a bipartisan effort to improve the existing law.
In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), 10 governors said the bill, sponsored by Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy (La.) and Lindsey Graham (S.C.), should be abandoned in favor of legislation written via a bipartisan, open process.
“We ask you to support bipartisan efforts to bring stability and affordability to our insurance markets. Legislation should receive consideration under regular order, including hearings in health committees and input from the appropriate health-related parties,” reads the letter.
“Improvements to our health insurance markets should control costs, stabilize the market, and positively impact coverage and care of millions of Americans, including many who are dealing with mental illness, chronic health problems, and drug addiction.”
The letter is signed by five Democrats (Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards), four Republicans (Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and Vermont Gov. Phil Scott) and one independent (Alaska Gov. Bill Walker). "
Once again, that's
Democrats:
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper
Montana Gov. Steve Bullock
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (that's right, Bill Cassidy's own Governor is against this piece of shit bill.)
Republicans:
Ohio Gov. John Kasich
Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott
(Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan sent a separate letter)
Independents:
Alaska Gov. Bill Walker
So Lisa Murkowski can vote no with the backing of her Governor.
"McCain has said he’s still unsure and has raised concerns with the rushed process, even though Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) endorsed the bill Monday. " (Henceforth to be known as Governor Doug Douchebag.)
"So far, the same three senators who killed the last attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act remain the key potential swing votes — GOP Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), John McCain (Ariz.) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska). A fourth Republican senator, Kentucky’s Rand Paul, has already said he opposes the bill. Without him, Republican leaders need to win over two of the other three senators."
Of course, Rand Paul talks a good game but he's voted FOR every piece of crap that has come up for a vote.
To be on the safe side, we need more than Collins and Murkowski to make sure this bill is defeated.
"Kasich, who along with Hickenlooper has previously called for bipartisan reforms to shore up the insurance markets, is a key signatory of the letter, as Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) also hasn’t backed the bill yet. However, Kasich also spoke out against July’s “skinny repeal” plan, which Portman ultimately voted in favor of. "
I think Kasich needs to lean on Portman.