Senate Republicans, Preparing New Health Bill, Have No Votes to Spare – New York Times
We promised the American voters that we would repeal Obamacare, Mr. Paul said. But when youre keeping half the taxes, most of the regulations and creating a brand-new insurance bailout superfund, that to most people just doesnt look like repeal.
Ms. Collins has been a vocal critic of the bill for very different reasons.
If the Medicaid cuts remain the same in the new version of the Senate bill, I will vote no on the motion to proceed, she said Wednesday, referring to the first step required to begin debate.
As Senate Republicans struggled for agreement on the contents of their repeal bill, President Trump exerted pressure. I am sitting in the Oval Office with a pen in hand, waiting for our senators to give it to me, he said in an interview with Pat Robertson, the founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network.
Mr. Trump offered a warning about what would happen if the Senate failed.
Well, I dont even want to talk about it because I think it would be very bad, Mr. Trump said. I will be very angry about it, and a lot of people will be very upset.
Republicans hold 52 seats in the Senate and can afford to lose only two of their members on votes to take up and pass the legislation, which is opposed by all the Democrats. Vice President Mike Pence would cast the tiebreaking vote if there is a 50-50 split.
We just have differences that are legitimate about how the health care legislation affects our states, said Senator Rob Portman, Republican of Ohio, who said before the Fourth of July recess that he did not support the repeal bill as it had been written. Some people feel strongly one way, and others another way. But were trying to find middle ground.
Mr. McConnell has been considering changes in his bill that would increase insurance subsidies for low-income people and preserve two taxes imposed on high-income people by the Affordable Care Act. The bill is still expected to make huge changes in Medicaid, putting caps on federal payments to states and rolling back the expansion of the program under the Affordable Care Act that has extended insurance to millions of people.
One issue still up in the air is a proposal by Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, that would allow insurers to sell less comprehensive plans if they also offered at least one option that complied with federal standards. The stripped-down plans could omit certain types of coverage, such as maternity or mental health care.
Groups representing patients and insurers flooded Senate offices Wednesday with correspondence opposing the proposal. The Cruz proposal would result in higher, not lower, premiums for people with serious and chronic conditions, said a letter from 13 patient advocacy groups including the American Heart Association and the lobbying arm of the American Cancer Society.
Scott P. Serota, the president and chief executive of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, said the Cruz plan would create two sets of rules for health insurance products and could make coverage unaffordable for people with pre-existing conditions.
Senator Mike Rounds, Republican of South Dakota, suggested some kind of regulation to limit the difference in prices for compliant and noncompliant insurance plans, so premiums would not be outrageously high for people with pre-existing conditions.
But that was dismissed by Mr. Paul as a form of price controls.
And Mr. Cruz pushed back against insurers criticism.
Insurance companies have made billions of dollars under Obamacare, Mr. Cruz said, and their focus appears to be on maximizing their own subsidies at the expense of consumer choice.
Democrats may not have the votes to stop the Republican push to repeal the Affordable Care Act, but they do have Senate rules to help them. Under the procedure that Republicans are using to speed passage of the health care bill, senators can object to a provision if it does not change federal spending or revenue or if the budgetary effects are merely incidental to some policy objective.
Republicans and Democrats are making formal presentations this week to the Senate parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, who serves as a sort of referee, deciding whether specific provisions of the bill comply.
Democrats are preparing to challenge these provisions, among others:
Planned Parenthood. The bill would cut off federal Medicaid funds for Planned Parenthood for one year. The Congressional Budget Office said this would reduce federal spending by $225 million, of which more than one-third would be offset by higher costs for additional births to women covered by Medicaid. Democrats say the policy goal outweighs the budgetary impact.
Age ratios. The bill would let insurers charge older consumers five times as much as young adults. Under the Affordable Care Act, they can charge no more than three times as much. Democrats say the purpose of the change is regulatory, not budgetary.
Waiting period. People who went without insurance for approximately two months or more in the prior year would be required to wait six months before they could start coverage under the Senate bill. Democrats say the purpose is not to save money, but to regulate insurance and to encourage people to obtain coverage without mandating it.
Abortion coverage. The bill would prevent consumers from using federal tax credits to help pay premiums for insurance that includes coverage of abortion. Republicans say this could save money. Democrats say that the Republican goal is to regulate insurance and to reduce abortions, and that the proposal would not affect federal spending.
A version of this article appears in print on July 13, 2017, on Page A17 of the New York edition with the headline: Senate Republicans, Planning to Unveil New Health Bill, Have No Votes to Spare.
Read the rest here:
Senate Republicans, Preparing New Health Bill, Have No Votes to Spare - New York Times
- Opinion | Can Anything Save the Democrats? - The Wall Street Journal - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- President Says Epstein Critics Are Being Used by Democrats - The New York Times - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Mamdani charms national Democrats. But N.Y. Dems are just meh. - The Washington Post - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Trumps New Strategy on Epstein Fallout: Blame the Democrats - The New York Times - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Talking Trump accounts and mocking Democrats, Vance offers preview of how GOP will message the 'big, beautiful bill' - Politico - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Thank Fairfax County Democrats for your higher tax bill this year - Fairfax Times - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- E&E News: Youth fighting Trump on climate get boost from Democrats - POLITICO Pro - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Democrats walk out of Emil Bove judicial confirmation hearing - CBS News - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- John Fetterman's Approval Rating With Democrats Hits Record Low - Newsweek - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Opinion | Democrats risk taking the wrong lessons from Trumpism - The Washington Post - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Democrats Storm Out of Vote on Trumps Judicial Nominee, Emil Bove - The Daily Beast - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Democrats and Republicans in Congress are working together to pass sanctions on Russia - 90.5 WESA - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Opinion | Democrats finally found an anti-Trump argument that works - The Washington Post - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Cook County Democrats mostly sticking with incumbents on primary slate but Assessor Fritz Kaegi is in limbo - Chicago Sun-Times - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Democrats bill would require OSHA to issue worker heat protections - E&E News by POLITICO - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Trump tries to shift blame to Democrats for Epstein controversy - WGBH - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- WATCH: Democrats protest Bove nomination hearing with walkout before vote - NBC New York - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Hungary opposition figures urge Democrats to organize against autocratic takeover by Trump - The Guardian - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Hunter Biden says Democrats lost election for not staying loyal to his father - The Washington Post - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- 'The powerful protecting the powerful': Democrats see an opening on Epstein - Politico - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats demand Pam Bondi and Kash Patel be summoned for Epstein hearing - The Guardian - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- As Trump looks to net five GOP seats through Texas redistricting, Democrats grasp for response - The Texas Tribune - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats are trolling Trump and the GOP over the Jeffrey Epstein case - AP News - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats Broach Potential Walkout to Block Texas Redistricting - The New York Times - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats Are Workshopping New Tactics After Losses of 2024 - The New York Times - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Mamdani Goes to Washington With Key Democrats in Congress Still on the Fence - THE CITY - NYC News - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Hunter Biden says Democrats lost election because they werent loyal to his father - The Hill - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats bash Trump over Texas redistricting: Act of desperation to cling to power - The Hill - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats raked in money in the Michigan and Illinois Senate races - Politico - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- House Democrats are trying to force the Trump administration to release the Epstein files - Axios - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- I don't want to talk to MAGA voters, but Epstein gives Democrats an in on Trump | Opinion - USA Today - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Danbury Democrats formally back Alves for second term as mayor: 'We can't afford to sit back now' - NewsTimes - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats Accuse Trump of Ceding Global Influence to China - The New York Times - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Opinion | Moderate Democrats cant save their party if they dont fight for it - The Washington Post - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats accuse Waltz of lying over Signalgate and berate him for not expressing regret - Politico - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Assaults on ICE officers surge 830% as Democrats caught 'doxing and physically assaulting' agents: DHS - Fox News - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats find reasons for hope and fear six months into Trump 2.0 - The Hill - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Gavin Newsom as the Democrats' nominee in 2028? What's not to like? - Daily Herald - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats must not abandon trans girls in sports - Bleeding Heartland - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats pounce on Trump's blowup over Epstein - Axios - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Trump's White House accused Democrats of inciting violence against ICE but they have no receipts - MSNBC News - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Megabill may not be a silver bullet for Democrats in the midterms - Politico - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Young Democrats have called for a rebrand. Theyre vying to replace the partys old guard - AP News - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Takeaways from AP report on Democrats already lining up for the 2028 presidential race - CTPost - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Democrats urge town hall attendees to persevere, hope in face of Big Beautiful Bill - Maryland Matters - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Video: How the Democrats Lost on Transgender Issues - The New York Times - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Florida Democrats reveal what they saw inside Alligator Alcatraz on tour - Scripps News - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Why NC Democrats think 2026 midterms will run through Rocky Mount - WRAL.com - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- No, Democrats Arent Controlling the Weather. Neither Is Anyone Else. - Mother Jones - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- As Democrats spoil for a fight, a new face in the House is leading them on oversight - NPR - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Young Democrats have called for a rebrand. Theyre vying to replace the partys old guard - The Boston Globe - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Young Democrats have called for a rebrand. They're vying to replace the party's old guard - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Democrats push back on trio of Trump-backed crypto bills with Corruption Week blitz - dlnews.com - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Utah Democrats work to make sure their voices are heard at the national level - FOX 13 News Utah - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Contributor: Will Democrats find an anti-Trump to galvanize the left? - Los Angeles Times - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Democrats have blue dot dreams in Nebraska - Politico - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Democrats Should Prepare for the Return of Debt Politics - Washington Monthly - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Democrats Must Find Their Nerve And Fast - The National Herald - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Opinion | This Trial of the Century Is 100. Its Lessons Could Save the Democrats. - The New York Times - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Democrats Inspire Vicious, Escalating Attacks on ICE - The White House (.gov) - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- John Kerry says 'Trump was right', Democrats allowed migrant 'siege' of border - BBC - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- New Survey Results: RI Democrats and Republicans are living in different realities - Salve Regina University - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- DNC chair on the path to winning back voters and lessons Democrats can learn from Mamdani - PBS - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Top House Democrats demand release of Epstein files that mention Trump - The Guardian - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Jeffriess speech is proof that Democrats are just performative and reactionary - The Hill - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Mamdani's far-left allies aim to primary Hakeem Jeffries and other NYC House Democrats - Fox News - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Michigan Democrats begin highlighting constituents impacted by Medicaid cuts in Trump tax bill - Michigan Advance - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Gavin Newsom swings through South Carolina, where Democrats will play pivotal 2028 nominating role - AP News - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Democrats Ignored What Their Voters Were Telling ThemAnd It Cost Them Everything - Vanity Fair - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Republicans and Democrats Finally Agree on Nuclear. Its the Industry Thats the Problem. - Politico - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Hawley rebukes Democrats' heated rhetoric after attacks on ICE, border patrol facilities: 'Knock it off' - Fox News - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Opinion | The Gender Gap That Ate the Democrats - The New York Times - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Letter: Why Democrats are losing ground with minority voters - Reading Eagle - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Ex-gov says Democrats need to rally behind a mayoral candidate, just not Mamdani - PIX11 - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Beyond Democrats and Republicans, CT legislators split into special interests. See what they are. - Hartford Courant - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- After Mamdanis Win, Some Democrats Are Determined to Stop Him - The New York Times - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Democrats retreat on climate: Its one of the more disappointing turnabouts - Politico - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Gavin Newsom swings through South Carolina, where Democrats will play pivotal 2028 nominating role - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Democrats call for probe into National Weather Service cuts after Texas floods - MSNBC News - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- "There needs to be blood": Democrats' voters tell them to "get shot" in Trump resistance push - Axios - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]