McConnell warns of possible bipartisanship on health care

[Jimbo101]

ABC News

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's public warning that Republicans might have to reach across the aisle if they can’t craft a workable health care bill came as an abrupt shift in rhetoric from the past two months, when the Kentucky Republican repeatedly noted that drafting the health care bill was up to the GOP.

“Either Republicans will agree and change the status quo or ... we’ll have to sit down with [Democratic Leader Chuck] Schumer,” he said after leaving a White House meeting with President Trump and most of the Senate Republican conference.

McConnell's comments could be read as a threat to his conference to fall in line, an acknowledgement of a possible outcome or something else. A spokesman for the majority leader declined to elaborate on this remark, but based on McConnell's past public statements, it is at the very least a stark deviation from his prior message.

Aides to McConnell pushed back on the notion that McConnell’s publicly mentioning Schumer was new or noticeable, telling ABC News “he has said that 100 times” and sending a link to a story published Tuesday citing people familiar with his thinking.


- McConnell has went out of his way to be a horse's behind every chance he's gotten - including obstructing Merrick Garland's SCOTUS nomination - not sure what he's thinking (or not thinking)

[MontanaMama]

1. The train is leaving the station.

My hope is that the turtle will not have the smarts to be on it. He just might have miscalculated everything. My fingers are crossed.

[TDale313]

2. F**k no.

Line in the sand time- no "Dems" better do any caving on this (unless Repugs come out with a bill that offers real universal healthcare, which we know they never would)

[Demsrule86]

7. We should absolutely help fix Obamacare if it comes to that and the GOP drops the repeal.

If we hold millions of lives hostage to political expediency, how are we different from the GOP?

[WinkyDink]

9. The major complaint seems to be rising premiums. Neither Party offers or can offer a fix to

that.

Because....Capitalism.

[Demsrule86]

12. The only fix is to force pharmaceuticals to have to bargain with the feds over their

prices and other medical providers also...if everyone was covered it would be easier...if we can work something out there are states that will expand medicaid.

[WinkyDink]

14. And said pharmaceuticals can tell the Feds, "You and what army are going to develop new medicines?"

[Demsrule86]

15. Europe has reasonably priced medicine...when it is the only game in town...and the feds should

spends money on developing new drugs in universities and not leave it to pharmaceutical companies.

[Demsrule86]

17. It could be fixed...but you have to have price controls and you have to make sure everyone signs up

You need to get the states on board too.

[Docreed2003]

3. But Mitch...

I thought this magnificent piece of legislation, developed behind closed doors with twelve of your closest male friends, was developed precisely because you didn't want or expect Democrat input...in fact I'm pretty sure you lambasted Democrats unfoundedly...and lets be honest,shall we, because that shit played to your base, even though you had no intention of ever wanting or allowing democrat input!!! Now, your turtle scrotum ass is desperately trying to forge a bill andyou turn to Democrats to bail you out??? Yeah, fuck you Mitch

[ProudLib72]

4. Interesting that leaving ACA alone is not an option

And what the hell does McConnell think Schummer will tell him? Yes, we're totally willing to scrap the healthcare we fought so long for? Really makes very little sense other than a threat to fall in line. So what this tells us is that McConnell is using bi-partisanship as a threat. That goes a long way toward demonstrating how repukes conceive of the government operating. It is by them, for them.

[Demsrule86]

6. The ACA needs some help after Republican sabatage...so I have no objection

if Dems 'fix' Obamacare and stabilize the markets...you would also see more states expand Medicaid.

[ProudLib72]

13. What does it tell you that they keep sabotaging their own bill?

It's like sabotage is the only thing they are capable of. Some people have been asking what changes Dems have been coming up with, and it's a decent question. But to truly fix ACA, repubs need to stay out of way.

[Demsrule86]

16. The GOP can not govern.

[DetlefK]

5. Thank you Mitch for destroying the "Democrats refused to work with us on the AHCA" talking-point.

First the Democrats "refused" to work with the Republicans, and then McConnell issues a warning that if the bill fails, the Republicans will HAVE TO work with the Democrats.

[lindysalsagal]

8. The numb-nuts can't even corral their own! FAIL! Putting out a failing plan.

He should be fired for messing up so badly.

[lindysalsagal]

10. trumpcare equals U.S.S. Plague Ship; "All aboard!"

The Congresses should have to live under whatever plan they inflict on the rest of us.

[Javaman]

11. oh turtle, you dream so hard. Dems will see you roast in hell before they help you. LOL nt

[Demsrule86]

18. That won't move the moderates who want to reach across the aisle...there are enough

to torpedo the bill.

[marylandblue]

19. I swear I can't tell the deference between real headlines and The Onion

[Trial_By_Fire]

20. All the turtle has to do is and one clause to the ACA...

"From hence forward, the ACA can never be called Obamacare".

That should sooth all problems that the repubs have...