Pence presents new healthcare offer to Freedom Caucus

[Elderberry]

The Hill By Peter Sullivan - 04/03/17

White House officials presented an offer to the conservative House Freedom Caucus on Monday night as they seek to revive the ObamaCare replacement bill.

Vice President Mike Pence and other White House officials presented an idea to the Freedom Caucus meeting to allow states to choose to apply for waivers to repeal two ObamaCare regulations that conservatives argue are driving up premiums.

Those two regulations detail ObamaCare's essential health benefits, which mandate which health services insurers must cover, and "community rating," which prevents insurers from charging sick people higher premiums.

Conservatives had previously called for the bill to repeal those regulations outright, but the deal now being discussed would give states a choice by allowing them to apply for a waiver from the federal government.

Freedom Caucus members expressed openness to the proposal, but cautioned that they need to review the legislative text, which they hoped would be available within the next 24 hours.

Multiple lawmakers said the White House is hoping to have a vote as soon as this week, though Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), the Freedom Caucus chairman, cautioned against setting "artificial" deadlines.

"There is no deal in principle; there is a solid idea that was offered," Meadows told reporters after the meeting.

"We're certainly encouraged by the progress we seem to be making," he added.

He said that repeal of the two regulations in question would provide enough "yes" votes to pass the bill, but cautioned that the Freedom Caucus needs to review the legislative language and make sure it is adequate.

No lawmakers who were previously opposed to the bill have switched their position because there is currently a lack of detail, Meadows said Monday night.

House leadership has not taken a hands-on approach so far to the revived negotiations, and as recently as a week ago was essentially saying the bill was dead.

There is also the question of how moderates would respond to the proposal. Centrists previously objected to adding repeal of the essential health benefits to the bill.

Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.), a member of the centrist Tuesday Group, argued that giving states the choice, and making them meet certain standards in putting together a waiver application, could allay centrist concerns.

More:http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/327124-pence-presents-new-healthcare-offer-to-freedom-caucus

[libertybele]

A waiver in lieu of a full repeal?  Hopefully not.  Repeal the darn thing and implement a bill that's a combination of Rand and Ted's bill.

[bolobaby]

What is so hard about this? Are the monkeys we elect to Congress really THIS STUPID?

I could write a better bill in about thirty frickin' minutes. Screw the democrats. Pass it on reconciliation and watch them have fits in the aisle. Give them the finger on the way out of the hall.

This is not hard, people.

[Chosen Daughter]

A waiver in lieu of a full repeal?  Hopefully not.  Repeal the darn thing and implement a bill that's a combination of Rand and Ted's bill.

 

[geronl]

they're trying to revive the POS bill?

talk about tone deaf

[libertybele]

they're trying to revive the POS bill?

talk about tone deaf

????  What?  Tone deaf?  Apparently so.  Or is it that 'they' actually never had any intention of repealing the darn thing?

[Polly Ticks]

And exactly who is going to review and make the decision to approve or deny those waivers?  Lois Lerner?

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Nothing short of a full repeal must be made.

Anything else leaves the law in place, to be re-opened by the next lib in the WH.

[libertybele]

Perhaps a call to Pence to stop the insanity.  We want repeal!!!

[Smokin Joe]

Nothing short of a full repeal must be made.

Anything else leaves the law in place, to be re-opened by the next lib in the WH.

This is another unsustainable economy wrecker.  The CBO will not have time to weigh in on this newest proposal, but sinking into the icy depths a little slower isn't going to fix things.

[Jazzhead]

The question is whether the waiver idea will gain support among moderates.    The FC's insistence on repealing the EHB rules caused moderate defections  (and then the FC stabbed the GOP leadership in the back by refusing to take yes for an answer;  this is exactly the issue that cause Rep. Poe to defect).

I think it is a clever idea that could gain some FC support,  but it's all for naught unless GOP moderates will sign on.   I haven't yet seen evidence of that.     

[Bigun]

Applications for waivers can be denied!  No dice!

[libertybele]

The question is whether the waiver idea will gain support among moderates.    The FC's insistence on repealing the EHB rules caused moderate defections  (and then the FC stabbed the GOP leadership in the back by refusing to take yes for an answer;  this is exactly the issue that cause Rep. Poe to defect).

I think it is a clever idea that could gain some FC support,  but it's all for naught unless GOP moderates will sign on.   I haven't yet seen evidence of that.     

It's NOT the moderates that need to be appeased, nor is the idea of partial repeal acceptable!

[geronl]

  (and then the FC stabbed the GOP leadership in the back by refusing to take yes for an answer;  this is exactly the issue that cause Rep. Poe to defect).

The American people who elected politicians to repeal the ACA are the ones being stabbed in the back by the Trumpists

[libertybele]

This is another unsustainable economy wrecker.  The CBO will not have time to weigh in on this newest proposal, but sinking into the icy depths a little slower isn't going to fix things.

Exactly. The latest figures from the CBO on the ACA is that it will soon bankrupt our economy.


 - See more at: https://www.conservativereview.com/commentary/2017/04/new-budget-report-america-will-be-greece-unless-health-care-is-fixed#sthash.UpUaaucg.dpuf

[Jazzhead]

It's NOT the moderates that need to be appeased, nor is the idea of partial repeal acceptable!

Then work to oust the GOP representative in your district and replace him/her with a Dem.

[Jazzhead]

The American people who elected politicians to repeal the ACA are the ones being stabbed in the back by the Trumpists

Same goes for you too - work to oust your GOP representative so he/she can be replaced by a Dem.   

[Maj. Bill Martin]

What is so hard about this? Are the monkeys we elect to Congress really THIS STUPID?

I could write a better bill in about thirty frickin' minutes.

Writing the bill is easy.  Getting the votes to pass it is the problem.

Frankly, for those of us who believe in federalism, this seems like a pretty good idea.  Leave it up to the states.  The states that choose not to get rid of those things will have to deal with the collapsing exchanges that will result.  Of course, the downside is that it means that some health insurance policies will not be able to be sold across state lines between those states that opt-out, and those that prefer to stay in.

But the problem is the waivers.  States should be permitted to opt-out on their own without having to get a waiver.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

It's NOT the moderates that need to be appeased, nor is the idea of partial repeal acceptable!

There are about 50 members of the moderate "Tuesday Group".  If every single member of the Freedom Caucus supports a bill, we'd still need to get support from 33 or so members of the Tuesday Group to get to 218 and pass the bill.

That's not a value judgment -- it's just pointing out the math.  And the overwhelming majority of the Tuesday Group aren't from conservative districts, so replacing them with more conservative Republicans in 2018 isn't a realistic option.  We may not even have a majority then anyway.

[Hondo69]

As a part time Rocket Scientist I have the mental capacity to grasp such incredibly complex matters as ObamaCare, the internal workings of Congress, the art of extortion, and what it feels like to be screwed to the wall.  So today seems like an opportune time to apply my considerable brain dexterity.

Does the damn thing repeal ObamaCare - Yes or No?

[txradioguy]

Nothing short of a full repeal must be made.

Anything else leaves the law in place, to be re-opened by the next lib in the WH.

QFT

[txradioguy]

Same goes for you too - work to oust your GOP representative so he/she can be replaced by a Dem.

[libertybele]

Then work to oust the GOP representative in your district and replace him/her with a Dem.

Why?  The idea is to oust the RINO in my district and replace him with a conservative!

[Taxcontrol]

Nope, not going to fly with conservatives.

REPEAL, not replace, not repair

[libertybele]

Writing the bill is easy.  Getting the votes to pass it is the problem.

Frankly, for those of us who believe in federalism, this seems like a pretty good idea.  Leave it up to the states.  The states that choose not to get rid of those things will have to deal with the collapsing exchanges that will result.  Of course, the downside is that it means that some health insurance policies will not be able to be sold across state lines between those states that opt-out, and those that prefer to stay in.

But the problem is the waivers.  States should be permitted to opt-out on their own without having to get a waiver.

That's just one of the problems.  The other problem is Pence's plan does not REPEAL the ACA.  I sent a short but 'sweet' letter to Trump/Pence on the issue; REPEAL was the only option acceptable ...