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Excerpt: "Republicans in the Senate and White House are increasingly resigned to defeat in their final bid to repeal Obamacare this week, despite a flurry of last-second revisions meant to win over skeptical senators."

Senator Bill Cassidy. (photo: Alex Brandon/AP)
Senator Bill Cassidy. (photo: Alex Brandon/AP)


Republicans Brace for Failure on Obamacare Repeal Despite Changes

By Burgess Everett and Josh Dawsey, Politico

25 September 17


Skeptical GOP senators have yet to endorse the Graham-Cassidy bill, even after a flurry of 11th hour changes.

epublicans in the Senate and White House are increasingly resigned to defeat in their final bid to repeal Obamacare this week, despite a flurry of last-second revisions meant to win over skeptical senators.

President Donald Trump seemed far more pessimistic on Monday morning than he had been last week, telling the “Rick & Bubba” radio show that he expected crippling opposition, calling it “disgusting" that party leaders can't pass a bill to repeal and replace the 2010 health law. Trump wants to continue the health care fight even though he is said to be resigned it will fail this time, a White House official said.

Meanwhile, the latest version of the bill by Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana has not yet moved any of the “no” or undecided votes into the “yes” column.

"Well, I wish 'em luck. But I'm not convinced they have much of a chance," said Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch with a chuckle.

GOP leaders have yet to pull the plug on the effort, but a massive change in dynamics must occur in the sharply divided Senate for the Graham-Cassidy measure to pass.

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul is still opposed to the bill, an aide said on Monday morning. Arizona Sen. John McCain also has not changed his position, which hardened on Friday into a "no" vote against his close friend Graham's legislation.

And though the latest changes to the bill are intended to woo Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, Collins has not budged from her “lean no” stance, and Murkowski has yet to get on board.

The White House has actively negotiated with Murkowski, Paul and Collins but feels particularly dire about Collins. The White House official said they could get Paul, but it would cost other votes. "Collins doesn't want to vote 'yes' on this," this person said. "I'm not sure what we could do for her."

The president has told advisers that he is convinced that there will be political damage for the White House if they don't pass health care legislation. Trump predicted Collins will oppose the bill, which along with McCain and Paul’s opposition is enough to tank the legislation. With just 52 GOP senators, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) can only afford to lose two votes.

“We’re going to lose two or three votes, and that’s the end of that,” Trump said on the Alabama-based radio show, in which he dinged McCain as "the only reason" the law is still around. He also referred to McConnell as unpopular.

Utah Sen. Mike Lee is still reviewing the bill, his office said. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said Sunday he is not yet supportive of the legislation, and an aide said Monday his position has not changed even after the recent revisions. Some of the latest tweaks to Graham-Cassidy would further loosen Obamacare regulations in a bid to win over the two conservative Republicans.

Graham and Cassidy's bill would block grant federal Obamacare funding to states and make deep cuts to Medicaid. Changes circulated on Capitol Hill on Sunday night would allow states more flexibility to eliminate federal insurance regulations and pump more resources toward Alaska, though critics argue the state would still receive less money than under Obamacare.

Murkowski opposed even debating previous iterations of repeal in the summer, but she is still engaging with Graham, Cassidy and other bill supporters this time around. Her sparsely populated and remote state faces high health care costs and unique challenges compared to other states.

Paul said Sunday he could support the bill with fewer regulations and far skimpier block grants to the states, though that position would likely turn off more centrist GOP senators.

Graham insisted on Sunday that Republicans will find the votes to repeal Obamacare.

But Capitol Hill Republicans are privately pessimistic about their chances of reversing the momentum against the bill ahead of a key Sept. 30 deadline to repeal the law by a party-line vote. The White House official said it was a "very uphill battle right now."

McConnell has not said whether he will force a failed vote on the floor, though in the past he has been reluctant to do so. Republicans also lack the votes to reopen debate on the bill, with many senators' offices noncommittal.

In a move perhaps intended to appeal to McCain, who has repeatedly called for consideration of the bill under "regular order, Republicans held a Finance Committee hearing on the bill Monday.

Critics of the bill were not mollified by the hearing, which was quickly disrupted by protests. Capitol Police dragged out nearly 20 protesters, most of whom were disabled and in wheelchairs.

The protest forced Hatch to temporarily suspend the hearing for roughly 15 minutes as the disability rights activists chanted, “No cuts to Medicaid, save our liberty.”


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