Republicans plan health-care vote on Thursday, capping weeks of fits and starts

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Washington Post

House Republican leaders said Wednesday that they plan to bring their controversial plan to revise key parts of the Affordable Care Act to a vote on Thursday, capping weeks of fits and starts in their attempt to fulfill a signature campaign promise.

The flagging Republican effort to reshape the nation’s health-care system picked up steam Wednesday, as GOP leaders tried to address concerns about people with preexisting medical conditions. But independent analysts remained skeptical that the new proposal would fully address the needs of at-risk patients who receive coverage guarantees under the Affordable Care Act, underscoring the controversial nature of the Republican effort.

Republican leaders huddled in the office of House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) Wednesday evening to figure out the next steps after a whirlwind day at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. Several said they would hold a vote this week only if they felt certain it could pass — meaning they now believe they have the votes.

Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) an influential Republican, was putting the finishing touches on his proposal to provide more financial assistance — $8 billion over five years — to people with preexisting medical conditions. Those people are at risk of losing protections under the GOP plan, which seeks to repeal and replace major parts of the ACA.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/republicans-push-new-health-care-tweak-to-protect-preexisting-conditions--and-garner-votes/2017/05/03/41b4fca8-300a-11e7-9dec-764dc781686f_story.html

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Just saw breaking... This has to be about the 70th time now....

[chelsea0011]

1. If they have the votes this is no healthcare bill...it is total BS

[pangaia]

2. Worried this time...

[BumRushDaShow]

3. Need 22 Rs to vote no

There were at least 2 no here in PA and 1 in Jersey who had been against it (2 of those per AARP ads).

[pangaia]

6. I read a while ago that 2 had switched back to yes..

which is why they are going ahead with the vote thurs...

[BumRushDaShow]

8. Those 2 included the one who created the amendment

I don't know how many moderates are out there though since the last election. I know previously there were about 25 - 30 or so but am not sure now. Here in PA, the Rs surrounding Philly are moderates in gerrymandered Districts (those Districts having voted for Hillary) and I expect they would vote "no". PA has fully expanded Medicaid since Wolf was elected in 2014 but had originally had a PA GOP-version of it when Corbett was Governor. The R states with expanded Medicaid might also have moderates who might balk but hopefully some media source will do their own whip count.

We have gone through this twice before and they had to halt it at the last minute.

[Horizens]

4. STOP the AHCA now.

EVERYONE Please post a nine digit zip code for your congressman (especially if he's sitting on the fence) so others (outside the district) can phone and write to him/her. Give me the info and I’ll call and write (and hope others will as well.)

[jls4561]

5. Why can't we address the real problem - the insurance companies?

Gophers keep saying "Oh, this big insurance company and that is pulling out or ten rural counties, because they can't make exorbitant profits." Well, boo hoo.

Why can't we eliminate the health care companies who just check the boxes for money and so they can avoid lawsuits?

Oh, right. Campaign money.

Why can't we get rid of campaign money?

Not much chance now that the squatter in the White House has appointed another corporatist to the Supreme Court.

I think we should strip the entire Trump family of their corporate holdings, take that money and begin to fund single payer.
Ivanka and Jared, the chinless wonder sons can go live in Ben Carson's homeless shelters. Donald and Melania can bunk with their friend Vlad. I suspect that Twitter account will be blocked the moment the plane lands in Moscow.

[Freethinker65]

7. Little reason for many pre-Medicare age "retired"people with moderate savings to stay in the US then

If anything close to this plan gets passed by the Senate and signed by Trump: The wealthy will see the first of their many tax cuts. The high risk pools will be underfunded. Those deemed by insurers to have pre-existing conditions WILL need to have a surcharge to make up the difference. There will be no subsidies for those with moderate income or savings (middle class means testing).

Might as well take any retirement savings you have and live out of the country where cost of living and medical care is cheaper until Medicare (if is still exists in any beneficial form) kicks in. Loss of moderate income/savings pre-Medicare citizens will drain certain sectors of the U.S. economy, but the GOP cannot think that far ahead and Trump needs something to gloat about at his next rally.

[Dem2theMax]

9. Folks, call your representatives.

Go here to get the phone numbers and call.

http://www.house.gov/

Enter your zip code and your representative will come up. Click on their name,
and up pops any and all of their office numbers.

My 'idiot' is Duncan Hunter. Lucky me.
His Washington D.C. office is closed, but I'll be calling in the morning. His mailbox is full. Surprise.

He had people at both of his local offices, one office was staffed well past closing time.

So call your reps, folks. The life you could be saving is mine. I will lose my health care, and will
have to either sell my house or rent it out to survive.

I cannot believe that this is the America in which we are living. Where the hell did my country go?

[BumRushDaShow]

10. My rep is a Democrat

and I doubt any Democratic congress person is voting for this (although I might be wrong). I know mine ain't.

[Bengus81]

11. Wait until that supposed 96% who would vote for Trump again LOSE health care coverage

Those idiots still think they are somehow insulated and belive that bag of BULLSHIT that his plan will be affordable. If you can't afford his plan then what the HELL does it matter if pre-existing conditions are covered??

[elmac]

12. one way or another they will kill off ACA

and there is nothing we can do to stop it short of a revolution or civil war. We can put it off buy calling, giving them hell if they ever give townhalls again but the fascists are in control. The only reward will be that the money the uber rich save would need to be spent right away on security.

[George II]

13. $8 billion over five years. What happens after five years?

[BumRushDaShow]

14. Bigger question is where they get $8 billion from?

The "wall" fund?

You would think any fiscal conservatives would have a fit with a request to "add" more funding to what they consider their pariah.

[jpak]

15. NO CBO SCORE

FUCKING COWARDS

YUP

[Zorro]

16. How much more Republican abuse can the citizens of the USA take?

[DeminPennswoods]

17. Let them pass ACHA and OWN it

Every single bad idea in this bill...the GOP will own it.

Healthcare isn't some abstract idea, people are personally affected by decisions made in Congress.

[Blue Idaho]

18. Good idea - except for all the people that will get screwed

By their draconian non-care version of health care. I do understand how you feel, believe me. I just can't reconcile it with the number of people that will be damaged by their heartless act.

[TomCADem]

19. No Problem. GOP Will Bathe In The Blood...

...of those sacrificed to fund tax cuts to the rich. Trump probably watches Handmaiden's tale as utopian society that we should strive to achieve.

[Blue Idaho]

20. But who's blood?

Im sorry but their bathing in the blood of kids who have a recurrence of leukemia and are now judged to have a pre-existing is not comforting to me. No matter how much it feeds my righteous anger.