What’s Stopping Republicans from Passing Trumpcare?

Republicans remain divided about how to bring across a plan that adheres to conservative principles while still retaining the ability to actually make it to the president’s desk. In the latest dust up, conservative groups are saying the Senate version of the healthcare bill shall not pass.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is coming fresh off of delaying the vote to avoid potential embarrassment, and trying to shore up the support of more Republican senators.

McConnell had originally been looking to vote on the measure before the July 4th holiday. To his credit, the bill would have pushed forward some major repeals of Obamacare and create replacement measures in a new federally moderated health care program. However, the Democratic and moderate opposition to the bill has been solid enough to match and block Republican support.

The Republicans do have a slight Senate majority. However, the support from the White House may actually be slowing down the process towards the 50 votes the bill needs to pass. Support from moderate Republicans waned as the White House made its intention known to help write legislation. The stock market even fell on the news.

Considering the House of Representatives passed a bill relatively easy, it begs the question: why are there holdouts in the Senate?

The truth is that the legislation’s writers are trying to win favor with everyone, and pleasing no one in the process. There are many conservative groups backing these Senators that are still worried about its effects.

Some moderate conservative Senators are backed by veterans’ groups and groups representing older Americans. These groups are worried that the new bill will not address the needs of the elderly. As bad as Obamacare is, the bill did contain some measures to move expenses away from elderly people who would be less able to afford them.

If a new bill were passed without taking these changes into account, retirees and disabled veterans would suddenly be responsible for more of their own health care. Because people in these groups usually do not have substantial income, new medical expenses could prove too much for them.

These moderate conservative groups seem to be backed by hard data. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), a non-partisan watchdog group, noted that the Senate bill would cause 22 million people to lose health insurance. The upside is that the federal deficit would be reduced by $321 billion over 10 years.

The divide in the Senate comes from McConnell’s need to make good on some of his long-term promises. He may be feeling the pressure of his own words to destroy Obamacare quickly after the 2016 Republican electoral victories. Many of those wins were tied to the promise that Republicans would repeal and replace Obamacare.

McConnell may be looking ahead to the mid term Congressional elections – Republicans may lose a legislative majority if key swing states move back into liberal territory.

A Senate bill must still be approved by the House of Representatives. Because the House has already passed its own health care bill, there may be dissension here as well. A conference committee would likely take place, which could draw out negotiations past the mid term elections. Alternatively, the House can also substitute a completely new bill and pass it through to the Senate.

Regardless of what conservatives decide to do, we can expect no help from liberals, who are united against both bills. The Senate bill is especially troubling to them, being the more extreme. Democrats are taking an old line, saying that the bill is a tax break for the rich. Although this may be a deflection, it is an effective one, and conservatives must address it in order to have a chance to replace Obamacare in a timely fashion.

The Senate health care bill must address the needs of older Americans. We owe our elders and veterans a debt of gratitude, and conservative groups are right to hold out until we pass legislation that takes them into account. The sooner that we include our parents and grandparents in the discussion of our health, the sooner that we can get rid of Obamacare.

~ Liberty Planet


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