Kasich Puts Portman On The Spot By Torching Obamacare Repeal Bill

[DonViejo]

Source: Talking Points Memo



By ALICE OLLSTEIN Published JULY 14, 2017 11:22 AM

Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) released a statement Friday torching the revised Senate bill that would largely repeal the Affordable Care Act and made deep cuts to Medicaid, calling the legislation “unacceptable” and calling on senators to start over with a truly bipartisan process.

Link to tweet

Kasich’s strong opposition makes life even harder for Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), who says he is currently undecided on the bill as a vote approaches. Portman previously said he has “real concerns” about the bill’s cuts to Medicaid, which would hit Ohio and other Medicaid expansion states particularly hard. The revised version of the bill keeps those cuts in place.

Kasich is one of several Republican governors in states that expanded Medicaid who are working to stop the passage of the Senate bill, leaning on their state’s senators to vote now. On Thursday, Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN), vented his frustration at these governors’ opposition to these cuts to the social safety net.

“Are you kidding me?” he said in exasperation. “I’m sure every governor would love for us to send free, un-paid for money back home. But I’m sorry, if governors were where we were, looking at an unsustainable situation, trillions of dollars in debt, they would be looking at the same reforms. If we cannot cause our governors to play an appropriate role, an appropriate partnership. … It’s not appropriate right now.”

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Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/kasich-portman-obamacare-repeal-senate

[chowder66]

1. The ACA bill itself was bipartisan. There were numerous Republican additions damn it. nt

[atreides1]

6. Yes it was

But when it came time to vote for the completed bill, not one slime filled, ass hat, drooling, knuckle dragging Republican voted for it!!!

And they all love to brag how no Republican voted for the ACA, even after doing their best to turn the bill into a smoking pile of shit by adding their additions that weakened it!!!

But the Republican voters refuse to accept the facts...and nothing, not even their impending deaths under Trumpcare will change enough minds...

[haele]

8. Of course no Republican voted for it. They knew it would pass without them.

They had the luxury to pretend to be steadfast against Obama for the rubes at home. But at the time, the ACA had to pass, because the status quo couldn't be maintained. Even the employer-provided insurance market was becoming unaffordable; the year prior to the ACA passing, our company plan - I guess it would be considered a "Lexus" plan, not quite Cadillac, but better than most - saw a 14% rise in premium and about a 10% cut in coverage, along with a hefty deductible hike. That was the third year in a row there was a double digit premium rise.

In 2006, my premium for a family plan (BCBS PPO) was $380 a month for medical, with a $2500 family deductible. By 2009, it was $780 with a $8K family deductible. However, thanks to the ACA, in 2016 my premium at that company had only risen to $850 with more services covered, and the family deductible had actually dropped to $6500. Much easier to live with.

A month before the ACA was signed, my employer had just put out a survey about our choices - would we rather go through another significant premium hike with no change in coverage with a BCBS selection of plans, or go with a smaller regional insurance company with policies that were 20% cheaper but also covered much less in a highly restricted network.

Haele

[tonyt53]

2. I wish Kasich would call Bevin in KY and inform that idiot of the consequences.

[chowder66]

3. ugh. I posted on his twitter account that it was a bi-partison bill. Over 100 GOP amendments. nt

[SHRED]

4. The ACA wasn't bipartisan?

With over 100 Repug amendments this fucker is a typical republican.
He's a liar.

[Towlie]

5. "Its cuts to Medicaid are too deep." How nice! He wants to reduce the body count a little.

... and get this:

He is ... (wait for it) ... "pro life".

[stuffmatters]

7. The ACA WAS the Republican Plan from Koch's Heritage Foundation into Romneycare

So ACA was based on The Republican Plan and then Obama.the Senate held many open hearings and amendments from them in the long months before passage, That it ended up passing without Republican votes is because the Republicans refused to pass their own plan with Obama's name on it.bkz of the McConnell Rule, i.e. obstruct everything Obama/ Party always over People.

The Democrats plan was always Medicare for All, which Obama abandoned for the Republican Plan called ACA. That was more than a "bipartisan" compromise.

Since passage of ACA the Republicans have obstructed any bipartisan efforts to improve ACA , their SCOTUS destroyed the
Medicaid extension mandate and their Senators have sabotaged it (eg Rubio) by refusing to fund promised risjk corridor subsidies.
Obamacare is weak only in the cruel Republican states which refused to extend the Medicaid extension and cover the health of their own working poor.

Why can't these simple facts be clearly, automatically stated by at least our own senators or an MSM practicing responsible journalism?

[Maeve]

9. Portman has all the spine of a jellyfish

And Kasich has nothing much to lose by bucking tRump. Of course, Kasich does have strong policy positions--but he never lets them get in his way!

[irisblue]

10. Kasich would like to hear from DU

I think @ 614-466-3555. Let him know how you feel?
Portman would love to hear from us as well his Columbus office # is 614-469-6774.

[irisblue]

11. There are more # for Portman on the Ohio group. nt