McConnell presses holdouts: Let’s vote
By Alexander Bolton and Rachel Roubein - 07/12/17 08:34 PM EDT Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is ramping up pressure on Senate Republicans to allow healthcare reform legislation to move forward, but old antagonist Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is an obstacle.
McConnell on Wednesday urged colleagues to drop procedural objections to the bill, a sign that his patience is wearing thin — and that he is uncertain he can win the day.
“If we sit on our hands, families will continue to suffer. And if we let this opportunity to move beyond ObamaCare pass us by, what other options will there be?” he said in remarks from the Senate floor.
McConnell argued that if senators blocked the bill, there would be no opportunity to debate their ideas in public.
Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) said his colleagues have an obligation to allow the debate to proceed and would break Senate traditions by blocking it.
“The only time I’m aware of around here that people don’t vote yes on a motion to proceed is if they don’t have an opportunity to offer amendments and get votes on them,” he said.
Their pleas, however, failed to move some members of the GOP conference.
Cruz, the runner-up in last year’s Republican presidential primary, declined to say Wednesday whether he would vote to allow the healthcare debate to begin next week.
“Depends what’s in the bill,” Cruz told reporters before heading into a lunch where lawmakers discussed the outline of the legislation.
Cruz and fellow conservative Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) are insisting on an amendment that would allow insurance companies to sell any kind of health plan they want as long as they offer at least one that complies with federal regulations.
Cruz was summoned to Cornyn’s office late Wednesday afternoon to discuss his concerns with the legislation.
Critics say the Cruz-Lee amendment would lead healthier people to flock to cheap, bare-bones plans, sending premiums for older and sicker people soaring.
In a document circulated on Capitol Hill, the main insurer trade group, America’s Health Insurance Plans, warned the Cruz-Lee amendment could lead to higher costs for those with pre-existing conditions.
Such individuals could “potentially lose access to comprehensive coverage and/or have plans that were far more expensive, as premiums in the Exchange market would rise much faster,” it said.
McConnell can afford only two defections if he is to still pass the bill, as Republicans control 52 seats. Vice President Pence would break a 50-50 tie.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is expected to oppose the bill, and many observers also believe it will be impossible to win support from Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).
Despite the tough odds, one GOP lawmaker who attended Wednesday’s lunch said there’s generally a “more positive feeling” that the motion to proceed to the bill will pass next week but conceded “no one stood up and said they changed their minds” to express support for the bill.
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http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/341780-mcconnell-presses-holdouts-lets-vote
