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| Republican plan to defeat Obamacare looks doomed as Susan Collins says no to bill | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The latest Republican bill to repeal Obamacare appears doomed to fail after a key senator came out strongly against it within minutes of an analysis which said the plan would strip health insurance from “millions” of Americans. | |
| Moments after the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released a partial analysis of the Republicans’ plan, Maine Senator Susan Collins announced she would not vote for the bill, and called it “deeply flawed”. | |
| The CBO said it was unable to provide a more specific estimate because it lacked the time to fully examine the legislation, but said that “millions fewer” people would have insurance because of large cuts to Medicaid (a health insurance program for the poor), lower subsidies for individuals who buy insurance, and a lack of penalties for people who prefer to go without insurance. | |
| Collins said the bill would have a “substantially negative impact”. | |
| The estimate, which say the bill would cut the US budget deficit by $133bn, comes as Senate Republicans hoped to push through a health reform bill this week. | |
| Senate Republicans are offering new deals to key lawmakers in the hope of forcing through a repeal of the Affordable Care Act that would slash the government’s spending on healthcare for poor and disabled Americans. | Senate Republicans are offering new deals to key lawmakers in the hope of forcing through a repeal of the Affordable Care Act that would slash the government’s spending on healthcare for poor and disabled Americans. |
| Republican support for the so-called Graham-Cassidy health bill, which would repeal the ACA, better known as Obamacare, appears to be soft at best after a weekend when senators expressed doubt about the legislation even as it was being revised behind the scenes. | Republican support for the so-called Graham-Cassidy health bill, which would repeal the ACA, better known as Obamacare, appears to be soft at best after a weekend when senators expressed doubt about the legislation even as it was being revised behind the scenes. |
| The Senate must vote on a bill before a Saturday deadline if Republicans are to pass it with a simple majority, but critics, led by Senator John McCain, are concerned that the usual due process has been ignored. | The Senate must vote on a bill before a Saturday deadline if Republicans are to pass it with a simple majority, but critics, led by Senator John McCain, are concerned that the usual due process has been ignored. |
| The bill had only one public hearing, at a Senate committee on Monday afternoon, and its cost and consequences will be subject to only a “preliminary analysis” from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office. | The bill had only one public hearing, at a Senate committee on Monday afternoon, and its cost and consequences will be subject to only a “preliminary analysis” from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office. |
| “Right now, there is a frenzy of special deals being considered, [and] elbow-twisting behind the scenes to bring swing votes from off the fence,” Senator Ron Wyden, the ranking Democrat on the Senate finance committee, told NPR on Monday. “The fight is far from over.” | “Right now, there is a frenzy of special deals being considered, [and] elbow-twisting behind the scenes to bring swing votes from off the fence,” Senator Ron Wyden, the ranking Democrat on the Senate finance committee, told NPR on Monday. “The fight is far from over.” |
| Donald Trump and Senate Republicans are trying to hurry the bill through Congress to meet both a seven-year GOP campaign pledge and to free up cash for future tax reform. | Donald Trump and Senate Republicans are trying to hurry the bill through Congress to meet both a seven-year GOP campaign pledge and to free up cash for future tax reform. |
| In order to do that without a single Democratic vote, Republicans want to pass the bill using a process called “reconciliation”. That allows Republicans to pass bills that affect taxes and spending using just 51 votes. Senate Republicans have 52 Senate seats plus the tie-breaking power of the vice-president, Mike Pence. | In order to do that without a single Democratic vote, Republicans want to pass the bill using a process called “reconciliation”. That allows Republicans to pass bills that affect taxes and spending using just 51 votes. Senate Republicans have 52 Senate seats plus the tie-breaking power of the vice-president, Mike Pence. |
| But the reconciliation process is time-bound, tied to a budget resolution Congress passed earlier this year. The deadline to pass a health reform bill with only 51 votes is 30 September. | But the reconciliation process is time-bound, tied to a budget resolution Congress passed earlier this year. The deadline to pass a health reform bill with only 51 votes is 30 September. |
| Two Republican senators have already vowed to vote “no” on the bill – Senators John McCain of Arizona and Rand Paul of Kentucky. That means Republicans need to attract the crucial swing votes of the two female senators who tanked the last Republican health bill with “no” votes. | Two Republican senators have already vowed to vote “no” on the bill – Senators John McCain of Arizona and Rand Paul of Kentucky. That means Republicans need to attract the crucial swing votes of the two female senators who tanked the last Republican health bill with “no” votes. |
| One of those, Senator Susan Collins of Maine, told CNN on Sunday that “it’s very difficult for me to envision a scenario” where she would vote yes. | One of those, Senator Susan Collins of Maine, told CNN on Sunday that “it’s very difficult for me to envision a scenario” where she would vote yes. |
| Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has not revealed her position. Nevertheless, pressure from the Alaska governor, Bill Walker, to vote “no” has been steadfast. Walker said any change to Medicaid would “likely result in drastic cuts” in his state. | Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has not revealed her position. Nevertheless, pressure from the Alaska governor, Bill Walker, to vote “no” has been steadfast. Walker said any change to Medicaid would “likely result in drastic cuts” in his state. |
| At a hearing on the bill in the Senate, the Republican senator Orrin Hatch of Utah made his opening statement over the screams of disabled protesters, whom he asked police to remove from the room. Protesters yelled: “No cuts to Medicaid! Save our liberty!” | At a hearing on the bill in the Senate, the Republican senator Orrin Hatch of Utah made his opening statement over the screams of disabled protesters, whom he asked police to remove from the room. Protesters yelled: “No cuts to Medicaid! Save our liberty!” |
| Hatch said: “If the hearing if going to devolve into a side-show or a forum simply for putting partisan points on the board, there’s no reason for us to be here.” | Hatch said: “If the hearing if going to devolve into a side-show or a forum simply for putting partisan points on the board, there’s no reason for us to be here.” |
| Nevertheless, White House officials said they were optimistic about the bill’s chances, even if one senior Republican official told the Guardian that passing the bill was “nearly impossible”. | Nevertheless, White House officials said they were optimistic about the bill’s chances, even if one senior Republican official told the Guardian that passing the bill was “nearly impossible”. |
| Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, told reporters at a press briefing: “We know we can’t live with the Obamacare status quo. It’s a complete disaster.” | Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, told reporters at a press briefing: “We know we can’t live with the Obamacare status quo. It’s a complete disaster.” |
| Meanwhile, the White House had undertaken a “repeal by 1,000 cuts”, Wyden said, referring to a number of administration actions that make it more difficult for Americans to sign up for health insurance if they don’t get it from their employers. | Meanwhile, the White House had undertaken a “repeal by 1,000 cuts”, Wyden said, referring to a number of administration actions that make it more difficult for Americans to sign up for health insurance if they don’t get it from their employers. |
| This week, the administration announced that websites for people to buy health insurance through the ACA would not operate on the weekends. The administration has also cut funding for advertising ACA exchanges, has shortened the time Americans have to sign up, and has cut the budget for people who help Americans sign up for health insurance (a complex and time-consuming process). | This week, the administration announced that websites for people to buy health insurance through the ACA would not operate on the weekends. The administration has also cut funding for advertising ACA exchanges, has shortened the time Americans have to sign up, and has cut the budget for people who help Americans sign up for health insurance (a complex and time-consuming process). |
| Over the weekend, Republicans rebalanced proposed federal funding to states, including specifically to states that are home to senators who could act as swing votes. According to Politico, Alaska, Arizona and Kentucky, would all receive more federal funds. | Over the weekend, Republicans rebalanced proposed federal funding to states, including specifically to states that are home to senators who could act as swing votes. According to Politico, Alaska, Arizona and Kentucky, would all receive more federal funds. |
| The bill and the process have proved wildly unpopular with the American public. Just 20% of Americans support the measure, according to a CBS poll released Monday. Most Republicans don’t support the bill. | The bill and the process have proved wildly unpopular with the American public. Just 20% of Americans support the measure, according to a CBS poll released Monday. Most Republicans don’t support the bill. |
| The Graham-Cassidy bill, named for its Republican sponsors, would make huge cuts to Medicaid, a government health insurance program for the poor that insures 70 million people, and would remove most roadblocks for deregulating health insurance in the US. | The Graham-Cassidy bill, named for its Republican sponsors, would make huge cuts to Medicaid, a government health insurance program for the poor that insures 70 million people, and would remove most roadblocks for deregulating health insurance in the US. |
| That could leave millions of Americans uninsured, and in the financially perilous position of paying out-of-pocket for care in the world’s most expensive health system. Though several independent groups have analyzed the bill, the Congressional Budget Office is considered the most authoritative. Its “preliminary analysis” is expected Monday afternoon. | That could leave millions of Americans uninsured, and in the financially perilous position of paying out-of-pocket for care in the world’s most expensive health system. Though several independent groups have analyzed the bill, the Congressional Budget Office is considered the most authoritative. Its “preliminary analysis” is expected Monday afternoon. |
| Sabrina Siddiqui contributed to this report | Sabrina Siddiqui contributed to this report |