Senate won't vote on House-passed healthcare bill, will write their own legislation instead.

[SirLinksALot]

SOURCE: WASHINGTON EXAMINER

URL: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/senate-wont-vote-on-house-passed-healthcare-bill/article/2622152

 by Susan Ferrechio

Senate Republicans said Thursday they won't vote on the House-passed bill to repeal and replace Obamacare, but will write their own legislation instead.

A Senate proposal is now being developed by a 12-member working group. It will attempt to incorporate elements of the House bill, senators said, but will not take up the House bill as a starting point and change it through the amendment process.

"The safest thing to say is there will be a Senate bill, but it will look at what the House has done and see how much of that we can incorporate in a product that works for us in reconciliation," said Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo.

"We are going to draft a Senate bill," added Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. "That is what I've been told."

The working group has been meeting for weeks, said Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, a member of the group.

"What we have to do is build a consensus among our conference and that is what the working group is designed to do," Cornyn said. "To get to a compromise we can agree to and then present it to the larger conference."

Cornyn said there is "really no deadline" for the group to produce a bill. "We are just working toward getting 51 votes," he said.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., did not indicate how the Senate would act. "As Congress considers this legislation, the administration will continue working to deliver relief and stabilize health markets, and Congress will continue to act on legislation to provide more choices and freedom in healthcare decisions," he said.

"Senate consideration will be scheduled following the completion of procedural and budgetary scorekeeping reviews," a top GOP aide added.

The working group is made up of members of the three committees that have jurisdiction over healthcare: Finance, Budget and the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions panel.

Cornyn said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who has co-authored her own Obamacare replacement measure, "has been an integral part of the discussions."

Collins, who is not a member of the working group, has written a proposal with Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., that would allow states to keep Obamacare or provide an alternative that would entail auto-enrolling residents in a basic health insurance and pharmacy plan.

Cornyn said talks so far have centered around what the House might do, amid some doubts that the House would ever be able to pass a bill.

That changed Thursday, when House GOP lawmakers passed their Obamacare repeal and replace plan that allows states to request waivers for the Obamacare mandates and provides money and a high-risk pool for those with pre-existing conditions.

"It was kind of a moot issue if the House wasn't going to be able to pass a bill, and now they have and I'm proud of them for doing it," Cornyn said. "Now it's up to us to pass a bill 51 senators can agree to."

[SirLinksALot]

From the article:

Cornyn said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who has co-authored her own Obamacare replacement measure, "has been an integral part of the discussions."

If Susan Collins is involved, that means this Bill is going to be a HUGE Government program, you can bet on it. It's not looking good at the outset.

[corbe]

   Cornyn is also a big red flag for me, I try to be optimistic but when it comes to this, Legislated Healthcare, I oftentimes think the situation is hopeless

[Bigun]

Translation: We will be consulting with our friends and benefactors over on K Street and find out what, if anything, they will allow us to pass here in the Senate.

[libertybele]

This is so frustrating!  What about Rand's bill?  What about Cruz's bill.  Collins is the last person I want working on this!

[RetBobbyMI]

Headline should read: Senate still stuck on stupid after a House vote on Obamacare!

[libertybele]

Headline should read: Senate still stuck on stupid after a House vote on Obamacare!

Yep...nothing like having Mitch and cronies sucking the life right out of the party ... again!

[XenaLee]

This is so frustrating!  What about Rand's bill?  What about Cruz's bill.  Collins is the last person I want working on this!

Oh come now.   What could possibly go wrong?   The Senate RINOs drafting their own version of the House bill.  I mean really.  It's perfection.  On with le celebracion!!!

[Right_in_Virginia]

This is pretty standard operating procedure.  The Senate will incorporate the House bill into their version and the Senate and House leaders will compile a final version in conference --- so everyone can come in off the ledge.  ^-^

[Emjay]

From the article:

Cornyn said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who has co-authored her own Obamacare replacement measure, "has been an integral part of the discussions."

If Susan Collins is involved, that means this Bill is going to be a HUGE Government program, you can bet on it. It's not looking good at the outset.

John Cornyn is a waffler also.  I wish some conservative senators were involved.  I am now seriously concerned that we won't get anything done.

[Emjay]

This is pretty standard operating procedure.  The Senate will incorporate the House bill into their version and the Senate and House leaders will compile a final version in reconciliation --- so everyone can come in off the ledge.  ^-^

Okay, you've cheered me up a little.  I have to say this has been a depressing day on TBR.

[libertybele]

This is pretty standard operating procedure.  The Senate will incorporate the House bill into their version and the Senate and House leaders will compile a final version in reconciliation --- so everyone can come in off the ledge.  ^-^

Lol ... I'm just tired of the RINO brigade; Collins and Cronyn ... joy!

[libertybele]

John Cornyn is a waffler also.  I wish some conservative senators were involved.  I am now seriously concerned that we won't get anything done.

I hear you. I especially don't like the idea that they don't seem to be concerned in the least  about a time frame.

[montanajoe]

Cornyn said there is "really no deadline" for the group to produce a bill. "We are just working toward getting 51 votes," he said.

It might as well be the 60 votes needed to override a filibuster. There is no way every GOP Senator will support anything close to the House bill...in the end the House will have to accept what the Senate comes up with if the legislation is to pass. We will be calling it Trumpcare but Obama will be fine with that...
 
 

[corbe]

John Cornyn is a waffler also.  I wish some conservative senators were involved.  I am now seriously concerned that we won't get anything done.

   

  I believe your right @Emjay Trumps legislative liaisons (Miller, Price, Pence, Bannon and Prebus) aren't going to be able to push around McConnell as they did Ryan and don't forget also that the majority of the original ACA was written by Reid/Durbin and Schumer behind LOCKED doors, so who knows but they need 51 and to get to that magic number they are gonna have to have the likes of Lee, Cruz and Paul on board.


Edited to add:  Oops 50 + the VP

[Right_in_Virginia]

Okay, you've cheered me up a little.  I have to say this has been a depressing day on TBR.

This is why it was so important to move it over to the Senate.  The Senate version and House version will be reconciled in the Republican conference.

It's all moving along as it should.  There'll be a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth about what's going on in the Senate and prognostications about the end of the Trump administration ... but the President has learned how to move the needle quickly and in the right direction; and I suspect he will not be shy about doing it again.   ^-^

@Emjay

[Jazzhead]

This is pretty standard operating procedure.  The Senate will incorporate the House bill into their version and the Senate and House leaders will compile a final version in conference --- so everyone can come in off the ledge.  ^-^

Yes, that's correct.   That's how it generally works with big legislation,  like ERISA.   Each chamber writes its own bill,  and if the Senate can pass its version then the two bills are reconciled in Committee.   I'm eager to see what the Senate comes up with.    The House gets credit for getting the ball rolling.  Let's show that a center-right coalition can govern.

RIV, thanks for being the adult in the room (you too, Emjay).   

I'm pleased as can be that this bill passed,  and never thought for a moment that this would be the final word.   It will be improved in the Senate,  but does a lot of good so far -  no individual mandate, no employer mandate,  a ticket for innovation at the state level,  and the first-ever takedown of an entitlement program (converting an open-ended funding commitment to renewable block grants.)   



   

[Right_in_Virginia]

Lol ... I'm just tired of the RINO brigade; Collins and Cronyn ... joy!

Oh, they'll be noisy and annoying ... and all we can do is suffer through it by keeping our eye on the prize.   ^-^

@libertybele

[Right_in_Virginia]

Yes, that's correct.   That's how it generally works with big legislation,  like ERISA.   Each chamber writes its own bill,  and if the Senate can pass its version then the two bills are reconciled in Committee.   I'm eager to see what the Senate comes up with.    The House gets credit for getting the ball rolling.  Let's show that a center-right coalition can govern.

RIV, thanks for being the adult in the room.   

 

[Frank Cannon]

Cornyn said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who has co-authored her own Obamacare replacement measure, "has been an integral part of the discussions."

Well then. What could possibly go wrong with those two losers running shit.

BTW, Collins is running for Gov next go round. She is going to create one of the biggest welfare givaways ever devised so she can buy her way in with all the welfare queens in ME.

[Jazzhead]

    (Jameson's for me) 

[jmyrlefuller]

So basically, the past months have been wasted because the Senate doesn't actually want to cooperate in drafting legislation.

[libertybele]

Cornyn said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who has co-authored her own Obamacare replacement measure, "has been an integral part of the discussions."

Well then. What could possibly go wrong with those two losers running shit.

BTW, Collins is running for Gov next go round. She is going to create one of the biggest welfare givaways ever devised so she can buy her way in with all the welfare queens in ME.

"Two losers running shit" ... that sums things up perfectly!     

[Frank Cannon]

So basically, the past months have been wasted because the Senate doesn't actually want to cooperate in drafting legislation.

Not only do they not want to cooperate, they want to create a bigger monster than Obamacare ever was because ever single one of those grease ball Senators are making money hand over fist running health care.

I got $100 we will have Single payer by the end of the year.

[Bigun]

It's times like this that make one pine a pre 17th amendment senate again!