ALERT: McCain has flipped on ACA repeal

[DesertRat]

Topher Spiro ✔ @TopherSpiro
ALERT: McCain has flipped on ACA repeal. All hands on deck. We need to pummel them for the next 24 days.

Link to tweet

http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/349462-mccain-backs-graham-cassidy-obamacare-repeal-effort

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. Yep. Was just a matter of time.

[BigmanPigman]

37. I am glad I never gave that ass any gratitude or praise after his vote.

Many people on DU said I was being too rigid in my stance. I know that you can NEVER trust any GOP bastard, even when they have a brain tumor and need costly healthy care. He does not care about anyone but himself just like the rest of his evil party. I DO regret calling Collins to thank her now. Dem Senator Hirano came from Hawaii to vote when she has stage 4 cancer. Now SHE is the one to admire!

I just looked at my extensive notes from July 25 and 26 when they voted. I believe the vote was for the "Skinny" bill and never got to the next one on the list which is The Graham Cassidy Amend. FUCK ALL OF THEM!

[Eliot Rosewater]

38. McCain hates Obama as well as Trump does, they both will

gladly destroy his legacy, even if it does kill many of us.

I may have given him props, dont remember, if I did, I was wrong to do that, I know better.

[jodymarie aimee]

52. Agree a million per cent

he was a bitter old shit to our Obama......

[Angry Dragon]

2. I will wait and see

[steve2470]

3. bastard nt

[eleny]

4. This would be gut wrencing for so many Americans

I hope it's not true.

[Phoenix61]

5. Sadly, not surprised

Kick the brown people out and let the sick and old die. How's that for Christian family values. Evil little shits, every one of them.

[Thomas Hurt]

6. IIRC, he wasn't so much against repeal as he was how it was being handled

If you were not expect this, you over estimated McCain.

[workinclasszero]

7. Figures he's a republican after all

They want to kill, steal, rape, pillage, rob, and deport.

It's the koch bros will.

[karynnj]

8. Collins appears to be a co-sponsor too

I found the bill - here is the link to the information, including sponsors. https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/191/all-info?r=1 (Note that the bill also eliminates title 1 of the ACA - ie the list of things that need to be included.) https://www.thebalance.com/obamacare-bill-3306057

The really scary thing is that they might divide the money - which is already 34% less per the link - in a weird way to insure states like CA, MA, NJ, NY etc get even less than their share. It could also let them increase the amount for states like WV -- to try to get both of their Senators.

There are many many things wrong here - beyond eliminating the definition of what has to be included. Including the fact that it would obviously raise the overhead to have each state doing their own program. Secondly, there will be bigger than current difference between the states. Would that motivate the chronically ill to be sure to be in a blue state?

[taught_me_patience]

9. What are the details of the Graham/Cassidy repeal bill?

[karynnj]

16. I think this is the correct bill - it is the only Graham or Cassidy bill in the record

Here is a link defining it:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/191/all-info?r=1

From the summary,
This bill provides states with three options regarding title I (provisions on health insurance reform, exchanges, and subsidies) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA): (1) continue implementing PPACA, with a limit on total premium and cost sharing subsidies provided in the state; (2) waive the requirements of title I of PPACA, with specified exceptions; or (3) the second option plus implementation of a Roth health savings account (HSA) deposit system. Only residents of states continuing to implement PPACA are eligible for PPACA premium subsidies.

Here is a link explaining what Title 1 means - it is basically the definition of what has to be included.

https://www.thebalance.com/obamacare-bill-3306057

In summary, from this very cursory look -- the bill moves the program from the federal government to the states. Then there are three bad options: 1) Let the states continue to implement ACA, but with a limit on total premium and cost sharing subsidies in the state, which of course leads to a problem if they set the total premium too low. 2) eliminate the requirements on what has to be included. 3) eliminate the requirements and create Roth accounts HSA accounts.


One very bad thing is that Susan Collins is listed as a co - sponsor.

[taught_me_patience]

18. Thank you for the info n/t

[leftstreet]

19. Oh, it's a done deal then

One very bad thing is that Susan Collins is listed as a co - sponsor.

[karynnj]

23. Only hope is that Rand Paul, Mike Lee and the other far right people

think it too generous - even if the state controls it. Interesting that Capito (WV) was also a co-sponsor. It suggests that some Republicans who do not want to be seen as for ACA completely are for this.

Also possible this is the state's rights nonsense.
(Remember that Kennedy had to rewrite the original version of what became Children's Health Insurance Program to get Hatch on board. The original bill was Kerry/Kennedy and it was a federal bill also based on the MA bill that used tobacco money to the states to fund it. It had no realistic chance of passing. It was a big deal when Kennedy convinced Hatch to work with him - getting him the needed Republican votes. Hatch went to great pains to detail where it differed. That each state could tailor their own program was something he spoke most forcefully on. One drawback is that some states did not bother to implement it (including TX) or did so poorly.)

[progressoid]

20. Ugh. n/t

[karynnj]

36. Here's a NY Mag explanation of what it was in August -- and it is terrible

so, terrible the only glimmer of hope is that it might not be allowed under reconciliation because of the "regulatory flexibility".

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/08/the-gops-latest-health-care-gambit.html

[enough]

10. Nothing is real to these people. NT

[Eliot Rosewater]

11. Anyone not white, xtian and male, who is getting anywhere in America, pisses them off.

[FoxNewsSucks]

12. No surprise at all,

that piece of shit didn't give the thumbs-down because it was the right thing to do, he was just getting even with the pussygrabber.

Being good for the country was just a coincidence he probably isn't even aware of.

[Cosmocat]

17. Yep

said that all along

Had 45 not taken shots at him, he would have been been a thumbs up.

[Kaleva]

13. He's never flipped on ACA repeal. He was opposed to the process being used.

[Ms. Toad]

30. So what makes the process of cramming this through

in under 2 weeks, with virtually no chance for hearings, any better?

[thesquanderer]

43. I think the difference is...

...the last time, the vote was to repeal, without a known plan to replace; and this includes a known plan to replace.

[Ms. Toad]

44. That's substance though, not process. n/t

[thesquanderer]

45. I'll give him that one.

His quote from the article: "If it's not through regular order than it's a mistake, but it doesn't mean I wouldn't vote for it."

IOW, that alone is not necessarily sufficient reason for him to not vote for something. And that's fine. Dems and Repubs both vote for things all the time even if there are aspects of it (or of how it was arrived at) that they disagree with.

[SHRED]

14. Asshole

[Wellstone ruled]

15. John McCain will always put Party over Country.

He is running cover for Jeff Flake,and he loves the attention he had received.

[MattP]

21. They only have what 11 days left till reconciliation is over

[MyNameIsKhan]

22. Here is data from calendar

http://thehill.com/sites/default/files/2017_the_hill_congressional_calendar.pdf

Senate has 17 days
House as 12 days

They will need to pass senate bill in next two weeks and then call for a vote in house.

[karynnj]

25. I do not know the intricate rules, but I hope that they use every archane procedural rule

they can find. This is fast track, so no fillibuster, but I wonder if there are any rules -- like the rules that required specific amounts of time to lapse between each step. The Republican cruelly used that in 2009 - the Democrats had the votes, but they insisted on the spacing meaning that the votes continued for an extra week up until Christmas Eve if I remember. I remember Kerry politely making the case that this kept all the staffers there and the result would be the same. Good will for the season -- not from the Republican grinches.

[MyNameIsKhan]

28. Doubt there are rules, except McConnell deciding on floor time which he can say 1 day and vote

He decided on 10 days on floor time for past repeal.

[mvd]

24. At least there is this from the article:

"The measure faces long odds, despite the boost from McCain. The White House is pushing for it, but Senate GOP leadership has so far not expressed interest publicly."

Hopefully taxes, the budget, and of course the hurricane get the attention this month, leading to the reconciliation deadline passing.

[MyNameIsKhan]

26. If they risk debt ceiling vote that need Dem's - well they will kill few more

Million Americans after 800k yesterday

House is only 12 days in session this month.

[mvd]

29. Yeah even with the Con's working with Dems on the debt ceiling..

that could unfortunately drag on.

[MyNameIsKhan]

31. Con can change any day, if he finds he is able to destroy Obama's legacy, this is more imp

[mvd]

32. True, you never know what he will do

It seems the Repuke leadership doesn't have this health bill as priority. But with McCain's switch, we must be vigilant.

[Ms. Toad]

27. Damn it. Those of us whose lives (or the lives of family members) depend on the ACA

are already so beaten down from the steady drumbeat of appeal, legal challenge, etc. from the day the ACA passed - on top of dealing with the illnesses that make us depend on the ACA to live in the first place - it is hard to keep on moving forward.

I'm tired of being the mole in whack-a-mole, and having my head bashed senseless every time I think it is save to poke my head up and take a breath. GO PICK ON SOMEONE WHO HAS THE MEANS TO FIGHT BACK.

[Afromania]

33. said it before and I'll say it again

These guys are no trustworthy and will eventually stab you in the back. It's like red light, green light with them. It's always green light unless you are watching them. The second you aren't looking they are sneaking up on your back for the kill.

[liberalmuse]

34. If you consider yourself a Republican...

you are a fucking coward, standing for nothing but the party line that has been sinking below the bottom of the barrel for decades. Always attaching yourself to the lowest common denominator of humanity. I will never understand people like this. Robots are more sentient.

[broadcaster90210]

35. Its his way.

He's a POS. Period.

[Joe941]

39. I can't afford ACA let along this new bill I'm sure.

Really doesn't matter one way or the other to me... We need something the people can afford.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

40. You RAT BASTARD!!!!!

Certified Property of GOP
"Our motto--Party over Country"

[NastyRiffraff]

41. Yesterday, he opposed...

today he's flipped. Tomorrow??

I wonder what he was offered. This is McCain, remember.

[Perseus]

42. After all the torture he endured

he can't take on Trump...

I wanted to stay optimistic, but deep inside I knew McCain would flip...Instead of leaving a legacy of standing on principle he has to cave in to the man-child who doesn't even understand what is in the repeal, all he cares about is dismantling anything Obama.

[dalton99a]

46. McCain will die as a good Republican.

[CrispyQ]

47. So was all that just an attention getting ploy?

He's as bad as the rest of them.

[Orsino]

48. Well, I guess he must be feeling better. n/t

[BigmanPigman]

49. I am so glad that you posted this. I sent it out to

people I know but it seemed to pick up little interest in the MSM and even here on DU. I have been trying to post it as often as I could without being obnoxious. We are going to lose this since the "single payer" issue has been the distraction that McConnell needed. Why in the hell didn't the Dems do something to let people know 2 weeks ago?!

[DesertRat]

50. Every Democratic MOC that I follow on twitter has been spreading the word about this!

We need to call our Senators! [phone]

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[Eliot Rosewater]

51. Yeah, no surprise here, they will NEVER stop.

[mucifer]

57. No major articles in WaPo or NYtimes Why not?

[DesertRat]

58. Google is your friend

Here's one:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/gop-bill-to-block-grant-major-parts-of-the-aca-unveiled/2017/09/13/bdcd1872-988b-11e7-87fc-c3f7ee4035c9_story.html

[mucifer]

59. That article doesn't say McCain flipped

It just discusses the republican plan

[DesertRat]

60. Your question was in a reply to my post about the Cassidy-Graham bill. nt

[NCjack]

53. Trump is on the way to getting leverage on Chuck & Nancy. nt

[Eliot Rosewater]

54. Trump has no clue what he is doing, has no strategy and is ignorant and stupid.

[NCjack]

56. If this bill passes Congress, stupid clueless Trump will have leverage. nt

[JDC]

55. As he enjoys top shelf Healthcare at the Mayo

Courtesy of US taxpayers.