GOP infighting erupts over healthcare bill

[Elderberry]

The Hill By Alexander Bolton and Peter Sullivan - 06/28/17

Senate Republicans are struggling mightily to find a path forward for their ObamaCare repeal bill, with infighting between moderates and conservatives threatening to create an impasse heading into the July Fourth recess.

GOP leaders say they want to have an agreement on changes to the legislation by Friday, but senators said they made virtually no progress at a lunch meeting on Wednesday. In fact, the two sides appeared to grow further apart.

Conservatives represented by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) squared off against moderates led by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) over lunch, according to lawmakers who attended.

They battled over Cruz’s “Consumer Freedom” proposal, which would allow companies to sell health insurance plans that don’t meet the requirements of the Affordable Care Act.

Collins and other moderates expressed strong opposition to the plan, fearing that it would lead to sicker Americans becoming segregated in the insurance markets.

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), meanwhile, continued to chastise leadership for not running a more open process in drafting the legislation and ignoring many ideas from rank-and-file colleagues — criticisms he has voiced over the past few weeks.

One senator described the talks as “running in circles.”

Cruz, leaving the lunch, told reporters that most of the discussion was about proposed market reforms to “reduce premiums to make health insurance more affordable for families who are struggling.”

Collins, who is worried about projections that millions of people will lose coverage under the Senate bill, said she remains concerned with “a number of aspects such as coverage, the Medicaid cuts.”

“Tinkering around the edges, adding a bit more money isn’t going to be the answer,” she said.

Walking out of the meeting, Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn (Texas) said leadership is aiming to come up with a bill by Friday that both moderates and conservatives can embrace, allowing a vote for the week after the July Fourth recess.

Cornyn said leaders want “to get a bill we can then get scored” by the Congressional Budget Office.

But several Senate Republicans scoffed at the timeline, saying it’s far too optimistic to think a deal can be reached in the next few days.

When asked about the prospects of getting a new bill by Friday, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) joked to reporters, “And pigs could fly!”

Collins, fellow moderate Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) and conservative Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) all signaled this week they were unlikely to move from no to yes on the legislation by Friday.

Heller said during a tele-town hall meeting Tuesday that he does not think GOP colleagues are “anywhere close” to a deal and warned it would be “very difficult to get me to a yes,” according to Nevada political commentator Jon Ralston, who reported on the event.

Paul declared after the Wednesday lunch that the GOP conference is at “an impasse.”

More: http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/339956-gop-infighting-erupts-over-healthcare-bill

[bilo]

They battled over Cruz’s “Consumer Freedom” proposal, which would allow companies to sell health insurance plans that don’t meet the requirements of the Affordable Care Act.

Collins and other moderates expressed strong opposition to the plan, fearing that it would lead to sicker Americans becoming segregated in the insurance markets.

I was wondering when these battle lines would be drawn.

Sen Cruz's proposal is the best compromise possible. It allows individuals to determine whether or not they want to be in the obamacare system. If they choose not to and buy high deductible "skinny" plans in order to keep premiums at a level they want it is their choice. It is not up to the State or Fed. govt to "allow" them to do this. Of course the liberal Pubs don't like the idea of people being free to make their own choices.

Choosing to not be a part of a govt controlled, heavily subsized, health insurance system does not make those freedom seeking people sicker. The govt subsized system may have a higher % of sick people in it, but if the govt health control system is so great who cares.

[Sanguine]

Susan Collins is now a "moderate"?

[truth_seeker]

I know the coverage for "addiction treatment" under Obamacare is an open door, and a huge amount of fraud is going on, right now.

The Betty Ford Clinic used to be the Cadillac of such providers. The rich and famous, and well insured, could go there for around $1,000 per day.

Today under Obamacare some providers with boulevard offices, are charging insurance $3,500 per day and possibly another $700 for urine/blood testing. To charge these rates, they merely need an MD and/or Psychologist on their letterheads. 

A few days ago 40 federal LEO raided such a provider in San Clemente, Calif.

The SoCal coast is used as part of very big barely legit schemes, where addicts and alcoholics are lured by recruiters nationwide, to offer sending "patients" to sunny California beaches.

They promise to enroll them in Obamacare which covers it all. Put them on planes tomorrow, etc.

When they finish treatment and/or relapse, there is no return airfare, and they "curb" them. Our areas are filling up with homeless, yet idiot voters continue supporting weaker laws for drugs, theft, etc. They are compassionate, like Kasich, Jeb-Bush, Collins, Heller, etc.  Poor druggies.

I say the GOP should support real treatment, like the Salvation Army approach, which is a bit like AA to the extent it has a spiritual core, and has little to do with money. Severely limit the covered cost.   

[Smokin Joe]

Susan Collins is now a "moderate"?

I saw that, too. That's a pretty serious jump to the Right for her.

[Suppressed]

Susan Collins is now a "moderate"?

Progressive Punch gives her 8.45% rating on crucial votes currently (and 27.32% lifetime).
Her ACU rating is 44.85.  But she's gone toward the middle since then, so yeah, she's moderate.

[Smokin Joe]

I know the coverage for "addiction treatment" under Obamacare is an open door, and a huge amount of fraud is going on, right now.

The Betty Ford Clinic used to be the Cadillac of such providers. The rich and famous, and well insured, could go there for around $1,000 per day.

Today under Obamacare some providers with boulevard offices, are charging insurance $3,500 per day and possibly another $700 for urine/blood testing. To charge these rates, they merely need an MD and/or Psychologist on their letterheads. 

A few days ago 40 federal LEO raided such a provider in San Clemente, Calif.

The SoCal coast is used as part of very big barely legit schemes, where addicts and alcoholics are lured by recruiters nationwide, to offer sending "patients" to sunny California beaches.

They promise to enroll them in Obamacare which covers it all. Put them on planes tomorrow, etc.

When they finish treatment and/or relapse, there is no return airfare, and they "curb" them. Our areas are filling up with homeless, yet idiot voters continue supporting weaker laws for drugs, theft, etc. They are compassionate, like Kasich, Jeb-Bush, Collins, Heller, etc.  Poor druggies.

I say the GOP should support real treatment, like the Salvation Army approach, which is a bit like AA to the extent it has a spiritual core, and has little to do with money. Severely limit the covered cost.   

But that is one of the coverages a family could opt out of (especially ones who do not need or foersee a need for the service) which could markedly reduce the premium for a policy which did not offer such treatment.

Part of my aggravation with the Cadillac plans is that they force a redistribution of wealth from people who have lived virtuous lives to pay for those who have blatantly not done so. Once again, those who do it right get punished.

[Suppressed]

Part of my aggravation with the Cadillac plans is that they force a redistribution of wealth from people who have lived virtuous lives to pay for those who have blatantly not done so. Once again, those who do it right get punished.

 :thumbsup2:

[Free Vulcan]

But that is one of the coverages a family could opt out of (especially ones who do not need or foersee a need for the service) which could markedly reduce the premium for a policy which did not offer such treatment.

Part of my aggravation with the Cadillac plans is that they force a redistribution of wealth from people who have lived virtuous lives to pay for those who have blatantly not done so. Once again, those who do it right get punished.

It was always a Democrat vote scam. Screw the working people and secure the votes of the poor.

Better now to not pass a bill at all than pass one that still has a mandate and Cadillac plan requirements. And primary them damn moderates.

[Smokin Joe]

It was always a Democrat vote scam. Screw the working people and secure the votes of the poor.

Better now to not pass a bill at all than pass one that still has a mandate and Cadillac plan requirements. And primary them damn moderates.

I agree!

[GrouchoTex]

"They battled over Cruz’s “Consumer Freedom” proposal, which would allow companies to sell health insurance plans that don’t meet the requirements of the Affordable Care Act."

Of course, liberals and moderates do not like this idea.
If they get rid of the mandates and you can buy plans outside of the requirements, who wouldn't do that?
Cruz, in effect has repealed Obamacare, if he can get this thing through.
I hope he succeeds.

[Smokin Joe]

"They battled over Cruz’s “Consumer Freedom” proposal, which would allow companies to sell health insurance plans that don’t meet the requirements of the Affordable Care Act."

Of course, liberals and moderates do not like this idea.
If they get rid of the mandates and you can buy plans outside of the requirements, who wouldn't do that?
Cruz, in effect has repealed Obamacare, if he can get this thing through.
I hope he succeeds.

Exactly!  Me, too!

[XenaLee]

"They battled over Cruz’s “Consumer Freedom” proposal, which would allow companies to sell health insurance plans that don’t meet the requirements of the Affordable Care Act."

Of course, liberals and moderates do not like this idea.
If they get rid of the mandates and you can buy plans outside of the requirements, who wouldn't do that?
Cruz, in effect has repealed Obamacare, if he can get this thing through.
I hope he succeeds.

 

[GrouchoTex]

@XenaLee
@Smokin Joe

I can't help but laugh now.
All those people who made fun of him during his "Green Eggs and Ham" filibuster, have now been shown that he was right, all along.
Obamacare wasn't going to work, and it was going to be difficult to get rid, of once it was enacted.

[Smokin Joe]

@XenaLee
@Smokin Joe

I can't help but laugh now.
All those people who made fun of him during his "Green Eggs and Ham" filibuster, have now been shown that he was right, all along.
Obamacare wasn't going to work, and it was going to be difficult to get rid, of once it was enacted.

He has a history of being pretty much spot-on. I watched him well before the primaries get buttonholed in the hallways in the Capitol and his responses to the ambush interviews were calm, collected, and Constitutionally sound. That put him on the radar for me, as an up and coming force in DC.

[truth_seeker]

But that is one of the coverages a family could opt out of (especially ones who do not need or foersee a need for the service) which could markedly reduce the premium for a policy which did not offer such treatment.

Part of my aggravation with the Cadillac plans is that they force a redistribution of wealth from people who have lived virtuous lives to pay for those who have blatantly not done so. Once again, those who do it right get punished.

I cited what I learned about what is going on now, under Obamacare. A HUGE windfall opportunity for waste, fraud, scams at taxpayers expense.

If my GOP House Rep Rohrabacher has any input, the GOP House bill would dial that all back by a great deal.

I think that is what detractors of House and Senate bills are finding; GOP cutting clear problems from current health care insurance.

Some "treatment" companies have fleets of brand new Sprinter vans, to carry their "patients" to AA meeting halls.

 

[XenaLee]

@XenaLee
@Smokin Joe

I can't help but laugh now.
All those people who made fun of him during his "Green Eggs and Ham" filibuster, have now been shown that he was right, all along.
Obamacare wasn't going to work, and it was going to be difficult to get rid, of once it was enacted.

I'm even more of a Cruz fan now.... than I was during the primary....and my esteem of him only continues to increase. 

[Smokin Joe]

I cited what I learned about what is going on now, under Obamacare. A HUGE windfall opportunity for waste, fraud, scams at taxpayers expense.

If my GOP House Rep Rohrabacher has any input, the GOP House bill would dial that all back by a great deal.

I think that is what detractors of House and Senate bills are finding; GOP cutting clear problems from current health care insurance.

Some "treatment" companies have fleets of brand new Sprinter vans, to carry their "patients" to AA meeting halls.

Then, too, there is the trillion dollar gorilla in the room--but letting the consumer have more latitude in purchasing a plan that matches their needs would shift that one back where it belongs, too.

[Bigun]

A Tale of Two Fiascoes

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2017/06/a-tale-of-two-fiascoes.php?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=sw&utm_campaign=sw

By rights, the Republicans should be profiting greatly from the left’s implosion, but they probably aren’t. The reason is incompetence rather than craziness. Not on the part of the Trump administration, which has generally performed well (the president’s inability to staff agency positions promptly being the chief exception). Rather, the issue is Congress; specifically, it is the Republicans’ inability to repeal Obamacare.

This is truly humiliating. Republican candidates ran and won through four election cycles on a platform of repealing and replacing Obamacare. They passed repeal legislation over and over, knowing it would be vetoed by President Obama. And yet when the time came, they had to admit that the legislation they had repeatedly voted for was inadequate, and now they can’t come up with a bill that can garner enough Republican votes to get through Congress.

You can say that again! And again and again!

[INVAR]

A Tale of Two Fiascoes

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2017/06/a-tale-of-two-fiascoes.php?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=sw&utm_campaign=sw

You can say that again! And again and again!

Because they don't WANT to repeal it.

They WANT to be in charge of running Single Payer or have a generous seat of the bennies once that takes place.

Entitlements are eternal, to be nourished to grow, encompass all, expand, enlarge and be untouchable.   Then they are to be ransacked and corrupted to the benefit of both politicos and their cronies with IOUs dumped in the till for the billions misappropriated via graft and theft with taxpayers being on the hook for all the 'free money' the system took for themselves to fund their campaigns.

The Dems knew this when they passed the bill into law in the middle of the night without a single representative having read the multi-thousand page bill.

This is how institutionalized corruption perverts everything that comes into contact with it, and if they refuse to go along - they are discarded.

One way or the other.

[HonestJohn]

A Tale of Two Fiascoes

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2017/06/a-tale-of-two-fiascoes.php?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=sw&utm_campaign=sw

By rights, the Republicans should be profiting greatly from the left’s implosion, but they probably aren’t. The reason is incompetence rather than craziness. Not on the part of the Trump administration, which has generally performed well (the president’s inability to staff agency positions promptly being the chief exception). Rather, the issue is Congress; specifically, it is the Republicans’ inability to repeal Obamacare.

This is truly humiliating. Republican candidates ran and won through four election cycles on a platform of repealing and replacing Obamacare. They passed repeal legislation over and over, knowing it would be vetoed by President Obama. And yet when the time came, they had to admit that the legislation they had repeatedly voted for was inadequate, and now they can’t come up with a bill that can garner enough Republican votes to get through Congress.

You can say that again! And again and again!

Who is the bigger fool... the one making promises he knows he won't keep, or the one who votes for him?

[Smokin Joe]

You can say that again! And again and again!


Who is the bigger fool... the one making promises he knows he won't keep, or the one who votes for him?

Those jumpers looked great in practice. They'd take every jump smoothly, perfect form. They did until the big day of the show, then they ran right up to the fence, and balked.

Sure, people got suckered. Screw me once, shame on you...
Not again.