Cruz: 'Catastrophic' if Senate fails to pass ObamaCare repeal

[Right_in_Virginia]

Cruz: 'Catastrophic' if Senate fails to pass ObamaCare repeal
The Hill, May 6, 2017, Max Greenwood

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) acknowledged on Saturday that Senate Republicans face an uphill battle to pass an ObamaCare repeal bill, warning that a failure to do so would be "catastrophic."

"For seven years the Republicans have been promising, 'If only you elect us, we’ll repeal ObamaCare,' " Cruz told conservative radio host Larry Kudlow.

"I think the consequences of failure would be catastrophic. But it’s going to take senators across the Republican conference being willing to sit down in good faith."

The GOP's narrow majority in the Senate, Cruz said, would make coming to an agreement on healthcare reform a "difficult task." He noted that a slew of obstacles ranging from the ideological to the geographical could pose challenges.

***

In the Senate we have a difficult task ahead of us," Cruz said. "We have a very narrow majority. We have just 52 Republicans — hold at least 50 of those 52 Republicans to pass the bill."


More:  http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/332217-cruz-senate-failure-to-pass-healthcare-bill-could-be-catastrophic

[bolobaby]

Too bad the House didn't pass a repeal. I guess he's right. That last bill was catastrophic. Thanks for confirming that.

[Right_in_Virginia]

I guess he's right. That last bill was catastrophic.

Except this is what Sen. Cruz said:

Senate Republicans face an uphill battle to pass an ObamaCare repeal bill, warning that a failure to do so would be "catastrophic."

[roamer_1]

Except this is what Sen. Cruz said:

Except that ain't a repeal.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Except that ain't a repeal.

Sorry, but after seven years the total repeal toothpaste is not going back in the tube.   

[roamer_1]

Sorry, but after seven years the total repeal toothpaste is not going back in the tube.   

And another promise, THE promise that got them elected, goes wanting. What a useless pile of crap.

[Right_in_Virginia]

And another promise, THE promise that got them elected, goes wanting. What a useless pile of crap.

They'll eliminate the mandates and taxes in Obamacare, bring back competition, pass tort reform and increase control at the State level.

But flat out, total repeal is simply no longer a viable option.   With "repeal and replace", the "replace" is the focus.

[roamer_1]

They'll eliminate the mandates and taxes in Obamacare, bring back competition, pass tort reform and increase control at the State level.

But flat out, total repeal is simply no longer a viable option.   With "repeal and replace", the "replace" is the focus.

Single payer, on it's way.

[truth_seeker]

Et tu, Teodoro ?

[Sanguine]

Who knows what he actually said; this is the Hill telling us what they heard him say.

[bilo]

Except that ain't a repeal.

You're right! The AHCA doesn't eliminate community rating and because no exclusion for pre-existing conditions remains insurance companies will be bankrupted if they remain in the individual market. Once the insurance companies pull out of markets the govt. will have to provide coverage. The individual market will be single payer in the near future.

Way to go Pubs! Thanks so much for keeping your promises. /s

[Mesaclone]

Too bad the House didn't pass a repeal. I guess he's right. That last bill was catastrophic. Thanks for confirming that.

Well, you know....Ted's just another one of those tree huggin' liberals.

Too many are arguing semantics...repeal...not repeal. The truth is, this bill changes the entire nature of what Obamacare was and is...the biggest beef most had with it was that it had mandates, it literally forced people into buying insurance whether they wished to or not. This was unprecedented government overreach...and it has now been repealed. The bill rolled back numerous other objectionable aspects of Obamacare as well. So while YOU may not consider it repeal, it is in every sense of the word a repeal of the very heart of the law we all hated and fought to rid ourselves of....and Trump has kept his word from the campaign with this legislation.

So call it what you will, it is a promise kept. Smart guys like Ted Cruz understand this, and so understand just how important this legislation is...for both the country, and secondarily for the conservative movement. So, maybe...just maybe...you should listen to a man like Cruz, admitted even by his opponents to be something of a legal guru, when he says this repeal bill is critical to our future. And that it represents the best of what was possible.

[Polly Ticks]

So, maybe...just maybe...you should listen to a man like Cruz, admitted even by his opponents to be something of a legal guru, when he says this repeal bill is critical to our future. And that it represents the best of what was possible.

You're twisting way too far on that one.  Everything in the quotes from Cruz indicates that he is talking about a repeal action in the future tense, not this most recent bill that was passed.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) acknowledged on Saturday that Senate Republicans face an uphill battle to pass an ObamaCare repeal bill, warning that a failure to do so would be "catastrophic."

<...snip...>

But it’s going to take senators across the Republican conference being willing to sit down in good faith."

<...snip...>

In the Senate we have a difficult task ahead of us," Cruz said. "We have a very narrow majority. We have just 52 Republicans — hold at least 50 of those 52 Republicans to pass the bill."

He did not say the current bill is a repeal at all, or that it is the best of what was possible, regardless of your own personal opinions.  Maybe it is or maybe it isn't — each of us will argue based on our own interpretations, analysis, and/or opinions — but Ted Cruz appears to be on the "isn't" side of the repeal question at the very least.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Here's a link to the full Cruz interview on the Larry Kudlow show.  It's worth hearing what he said.


https://player.fm/series/the-larry-kudlow-show/kudlow-5-6-17-sen-ted-cruz-senate-outlook-for-healthcare-tax-reform-what-should-be-done-what-will-be-done-can-he-support

[Right_in_Virginia]

You're twisting way too far on that one.  Everything in the quotes from Cruz indicates that he is talking about a repeal action in the future tense, not this most recent bill that was passed.

Here's what Cruz said, in full @Polly Ticks ... in his own words during the interview with Larry Kudlow

https://player.fm/series/the-larry-kudlow-show/kudlow-5-6-17-sen-ted-cruz-senate-outlook-for-healthcare-tax-reform-what-should-be-done-what-will-be-done-can-he-support

[Right_in_Virginia]

Who knows what he actually said; this is the Hill telling us what they heard him say.

We all do @Sanguine --- it's all right here:

https://player.fm/series/the-larry-kudlow-show/kudlow-5-6-17-sen-ted-cruz-senate-outlook-for-healthcare-tax-reform-what-should-be-done-what-will-be-done-can-he-support

[geronl]

Neither chamber will pass a repeal, ever

[libertybele]

Why are people jumping all over what Cruz said?  He is correct.  The GOP promised REPEAL ... to not do a full repeal will be catastrophic for the GOP in 2018 ... including his seat.

[roamer_1]

Why are people jumping all over what Cruz said?  He is correct.  The GOP promised REPEAL ... to not do a full repeal will be catastrophic for the GOP in 2018 ... including his seat.

YEP. Throw the bastards out. Every man-jack of them.

[Polly Ticks]

Here's what Cruz said, in full @Polly Ticks ... in his own words during the interview with Larry Kudlow

https://player.fm/series/the-larry-kudlow-show/kudlow-5-6-17-sen-ted-cruz-senate-outlook-for-healthcare-tax-reform-what-should-be-done-what-will-be-done-can-he-support

Thank you, @Right_in_Virginia -- I appreciate the link, although I do not have time to sit and listen for the entire two hours.  Honestly, Cruz's opinion doesn't matter enough to me to spend that much time on it; I'm sure it is interesting enough, but how I feel about the bill will depend more on how it impacts my family and my job than on anything Ted has to say about it.

[LonestarDream]

Start listening at 3:30 .  Three minutes 30 seconds into the interview.  One does not have to listen to the entire program

[Mesaclone]

Why are people jumping all over what Cruz said?  He is correct.  The GOP promised REPEAL ... to not do a full repeal will be catastrophic for the GOP in 2018 ... including his seat.

What he's in favor of is THIS bill with some modifications from the Senate...which is no more a full repeal than what we currently have. He's not an idiot, he knows full repeal will NEVER pass the Senate...as it couldn't even get through the House. I think we all hope he can squeeze in some more conservative concepts into the Senate version, but he is going to compromise as much as necessary to get this bill passed. Because he "gets" that pass it must. So you are entirely wrong as to his holding out for some miraculous full repeal, that is not what Cruz is saying.

[Sanguine]

OK, I listened to the interview from about 8 minutes to 11 minutes.  Sen. Cruz talks about ways that healthcare funding can be improved, and then says "we're going to have to deal with it" (paraphrased).  Not sure those words mean what you think they mean, @Right_in_Virginia.

[libertybele]

YEP. Throw the bastards out. Every man-jack of them.

I'm disgusted that the House didn't fully repeal the ACA and seems that they quickly pushed a bill through and tossed it to the Senate ... so ... now the Senate has two choices ... repeal and completely draft a new bill (which is what I'm hoping) or rewrite a version of the House bill. 

With Collins and Cronyn spearheading the bill in the Senate I am not very hopeful; especially because this puts our majority in jeopardy and other than McConnell and Schumer, Collins and Cronyn are the two worst possible choices.

[Right_in_Virginia]

OK, I listened to the interview from about 8 minutes to 11 minutes.  Sen. Cruz talks about ways that healthcare funding can be improved, and then says "we're going to have to deal with it" (paraphrased).  Not sure those words mean what you think they mean, @Right_in_Virginia.

The very last question Kudlow asks Cruz is about the likelihood of the Senate passing anything .... in answering this question Cruz says we've been promising this for seven years .... it would be "catastrophic if we do not do it now ....

Listen again @Sanguine