GOP Slips Repeal Of Individual Mandate Into Tax Bill In Hopes Of Scoring Two-In-One Victory
Not only would repealing the individual mandate save billions over the next decade, but it would allow Republicans to fulfill a years-long promise to voters. The Democrats and many in the health industry, however, are ardently opposed to the move.
The New York Times:
Senate Plans To End Obamacare Mandate In Revised Tax Proposal
Senate Republicans have decided to include the repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that most people have health insurance into the sprawling tax rewrite, merging the fight over health care with the high-stakes effort to cut taxes. They also have made a calculated gamble to help speed their bill to passage on a party-line vote: Republicans revealed late Tuesday they would set all of their tax cuts for individuals to expire at the end of 2025, to comply with a procedural requirement. Their deep cut in the corporate tax rate would remain permanent. (Kaplan and Tankersley, 11/14)
The Associated Press:
Obama Health Mandate Now Target Of GOP In Big Tax Bill
The surprise renewal of the failed effort to eliminate the health care law's mandate came a day after President Donald Trump renewed pressure on Republican lawmakers to include the repeal in their sweeping legislation to revamp the tax system. It carries high political stakes for Trump, who lacks a major legislative achievement after nearly 10 months in office. The move by Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee upended the debate over the tax measure just as it was inching closer to passage following months of fine-tuning and compromise. (11/15)
The Washington Post:
Senate GOP Changes Tax Bill To Add Obamacare Mandate Repeal, Make Individual Income Cuts Expire
Repealing the mandate, which compels most Americans to buy health insurance or pay a fine, would free up more than $300 billion in government funding over the next decade that Republicans could use to finance their proposed tax cuts, but it would result in 13 million fewer people having health insurance, according to projections from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. (DeBonis and Paletta, 11/14)
The Wall Street Journal:
Senate GOP Adds Health-Care Twist To Tax Overhaul Plan
Republicans plan to use the money freed up by repealing the mandate to direct tax cuts to middle-income households. They want to increase their proposed $1,650 child tax credit to $2,000 per child and lower the tax rates in three brackets, dropping the proposed 22.5%, 25% and 32.5% rates to 22%, 24% and 32%, respectively, according to the proposal, released Tuesday night by the Senate Finance Committee. (Armour and Rubin, 11/15)
Los Angeles Times:
By Inserting Obamacare Repeal Into Tax Plan, Senate GOP May Complicate Passage
It remains to be seen whether Senate leaders can muster the 50 votes needed from their own party to pass the new version, though they expressed confidence. "We're optimistic that inserting the individual mandate repeal would be helpful," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said. (Mascaro and Puzzanghera, 11/14)
Politico:
Hatch Adds Repeal Of Obamacare Mandate To Tax Bill
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) said he was confident that it could pass the Senate. “It’s been whipped,” said Thune, a member of the GOP leadership, adding that it’s an idea “we’ve been looking at for some time as a potential solution for some of the challenges that we’re facing in trying to make the bill do the things we’re trying to accomplish.” (Haberkorn, Kim and Becker, 11/14)