Collins Hesitant About Including Repeal Of Individual Mandate In Tax Bill
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) has been a crucial swing vote in the Senate this year, and looks to play a main role again in the tax debate. The House passed its version of the tax bill on Thursday.
The New York Times:
House And Senate Panel Pass Tax Bill In Major Step Toward Overhaul
With 227 Republican votes, the House passed the most sweeping tax overhaul in three decades on Thursday, taking a significant leap forward as lawmakers seek to enact $1.5 trillion in tax cuts for businesses and individuals and deliver the first major legislative achievement of President Trump’s tenure. (Kaplan and Rappeport, 11/16)
Reuters:
Moderate Collins Back In Prominent Role In Senate Tax Drama
Senator Susan Collins is back in the spotlight as a crucial swing vote in the U.S. Senate as she raises questions about how combining a Republican tax-cut plan with a partial repeal of Obamacare will affect middle-class Americans. ... She told reporters in the Capitol on Wednesday that her staff's research showed pairing tax cuts with an effective repeal of the individual mandate of Obamacare, formally known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), could be a mistake. (11/16)
The Associated Press:
Pope to Lawmakers: Protect All People With Health Care Laws
Pope Francis on Thursday urged lawmakers to ensure that health care laws protect the "common good," decrying the fact that in many places only the privileged can afford sophisticated medical treatments. The comments came as U.S. lawmakers in Washington, D.C., have been debating how to overhaul the nation's health insurance laws. (11/16)
The Washington Post Fact Checker:
The GOP Claim That Half Of The People Paying The Obamacare Penalty Make Less Than $25,000
On Nov. 14, Senate Republicans tacked a repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate onto their tax bill. The mandate, which polls indicate is one of the most disliked aspects of Obamacare, requires Americans to pay a fine if they are uninsured for all or a portion of the year. During a news conference with Senate leaders, Sen. John Cornyn criticized the mandate, calling it a “tax on poor Americans” because “about half” make $25,000 or less. (Lewis, 11/17)
Los Angeles Times:
Obamacare 101: Will The GOP Tax Bill Force Big Medicare Cuts?
As congressional Republicans move forward with their tax legislation, there are growing concerns that the costs, which are projected to increase the deficit by $1.5 trillion over the next decade, will force a host of big cuts in government programs, including Medicare. The Medicare cuts alone are projected to hit $25 billion next year, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, and would increase steadily by 2026. (Levey, 11/16)
The New York Times:
Middle-Class Families Confront Soaring Health Insurance Costs
Consumers here at first did not believe the health insurance premiums they saw when they went shopping for coverage this month on HealthCare.gov. Only five plans were available, and for a family of four with parents in their mid-30s, the cheapest plan went typically for more than $2,400 a month, nearly $30,000 a year. With the deadline for a decision less than a month away, consumers are desperately weighing their options, dismayed at the choices they have under the Affordable Care Act and convinced that political forces in Washington are toying with their health and well-being. (Pear, 11/16)
The Hill:
Poll: 60 Percent To Blame Trump, GOP For ObamaCare Problems
Americans will largely blame the Trump administration if fewer people sign up for health insurance this year, according to a new poll. The Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that over 60 percent of respondents believe the Trump administration and congressional Republicans are responsible for any and all future problems with ObamaCare. (Weixel, 11/17)