Senator McCain says Republican healthcare bill likely dead

[Rollo]

Source: Reuters

A senior U.S. Republican senator predicted on Sunday that the Republican bill to roll back Obamacare would likely fail, adding to growing signs that the bill is in trouble.

"My view is that it's probably going to be dead," Senator John McCain, a senior U.S. Republican, said on the CBS program, "Face the Nation."

The Senate bill, which faces unified Democratic opposition, has been further imperiled during a week-long recess where several Republican senators have had to return to their states and face constituents strongly opposed to the bill. Senators return to Washington on Monday.

The Senate bill keeps much of Obamacare intact but strips away most of its funding. It repeals most Obamacare taxes, overhauls the law's tax credits and ends its Medicaid expansion. It also goes beyond repealing Obamacare by cutting funding for the Medicaid program beginning in 2025.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-healthcare-mccain-idUSKBN19U0Q1

[SHRED]

1. It's always been about death

[Julian Englis]

14. +1 n/t

[yardwork]

20. Good point.

[LiberalLovinLug]

2. So this will turn out basically worse than if Republicans enacted their own bill

Because now that their is no funding, no mandates, Obamacare will die on the vine, become untenable, premiums will rise and protections on pre-existing conditions dropped.

And while all that is going on, Hannity, Rush, Mitch, Ryan, and yes the big orange buffoon himself will be railing on about "You see? this is Obamacare! This is why we wanted to craft a new bill. We all warned you that Obamacare was going to be a disaster...NOW do you believe us?"

And while that won't fool anyone on DU, or others more politically aware, it will be enough to fool their base.



At least if they had enacted Trumpcare, we'd have a hook to hang them on that they couldn't escape from.

[Bengus81]

5. How is there now no funding or mandates?

Nothing has changed,they didn't pass a repeal of the ACA.

[LiberalLovinLug]

8. I'm taking it from the article

"The Senate bill keeps much of Obamacare intact but strips away most of its funding."

There is also a lot Trump can do without congress apparently:

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/04/12/us/what-trump-can-do-to-dismantle-obamacare.html

He can't eliminate the mandate, but he can, and is, weakening enforcement.

He can eliminate subsidies for poorer Americans, or reduce the amount significantly

He can impose work requirements for Medicaid recipients

He can redefine what are "essential health benefits" under the law



And he will no doubt do as much damage as he can. Then...in a year or so, Trump, Mitch, Ryan, Hannity etc. will all say.."See?..THIS is Obamacare! NOW let us craft a better bill"

[DetlefK]

12. Then the Democrats must run on "Stop sabotaging the ACA."

[yardwork]

21. I'm not sure that will work for the Republicans.

The Republicans have promised to get rid of Obamacare for years. Their base is convinced that this is essential.

Trump promised to give everybody the best healthcare. Big promises.

Half the country now believes that (1) the Republicans will deliver on their promise to get rid of the horrible terrible no good Obamacare and (2) replace it with something wonderful that guarantees free healthcare.

When the Republicans fail to deliver, their base will be mad. Blaming this on Democrats may not work this time.

[MiniMe]

3. He says that, but if the bill comes up for a vote, he will vote for it

He has no spine

[NastyRiffraff]

11. Yes, that's what McCain does

He's done it again and again. He does some sound bites to sound good, then quietly votes for the opposite of what he said.

[Rollo]

16. Yes, he's a cagey little shit...

He never actually said he would vote against the Senate version of the AHCA. He just is saying that it probably won't get enough votes to pass the Senate.

And then he starts pontificating about how the GOP Senate needs to include Dems in the "process" to repeal and replace the ACA. Note carefully his next statement, "And if they lose, they've still be part of the process, that's what democracy is all about".

I'm not so sure the Dems should take that bait. This has been a hyperpartisan issue since 2009, and there is no sign the GOP Senate is about to make it a bipartisan effort. It's looking like an attempt to co-opt the Democrats in the Senate, saying, "Look, we let you offer amendments. Too bad they didn't get enough votes, but just be real patriots and vote for the repeal/replace anyway."

And I thought Trump was the con-man.

[Scarsdale]

18. Translation

of McCain;s statement "My LARGE check from Russia has not cleared the bank yet" He has no integrity, no spine, and is a greedy little swine. Why is he on TV most Sundays?

[hibbing]

4. Guess they will get the tax cuts in a different way

I still think they will pass this massive redistribution of wealth bill, but we'll see. I've been saying since the election I wonder how many Democrats would vote for tax cuts for their masters in the ruling class, I guess I'll have to wait to find out.


Peace

[harun]

19. Yeah, they will just pass tax reform and explode the deficit. Revenue neutral only matters when it

helps the middle class and the poor.

[C Moon]

6. Either the bill dies, or thousands die under it.

[riversedge]

7. Don't let up folks. Call, and have your friends call your Senators to say NO to Senate bill.

[Rollo]

17. Both my senators already oppose the bill.

[BumRushDaShow]

9. So does this mean that he will vote against it?

If not, then STFU Mclame. We need 3 of your party to vote against it and there is only 1 definite "no" (where Turtle is sweetening the thing for the other couple "no"s).

[briv1016]

10. The house bill was "dead" several times before it was passed. Now's not the time to back off.

[DetlefK]

13. Meanwhile, Chuck Grassley thinks that NOT passing the bill will cost the GOP the 2018-midterms.

Yeah, sure. If you are up for re-election, you definitely want to be tied to a bill with a 12% approval-rating.

[Doug the Dem]

15. I've seen this movie before

Didn't much care for the ending.