McConnell Concedes Bill Might Not Pass, But Reaffirms Need To Shore Up Individual Markets
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he will have a new bill ready for the returning lawmakers, but that if they can't reach an agreement "no action is not an alternative" that's acceptable.
The Associated Press:
GOP Leader Says He'll Rework Health Bill, But Offers Plan B
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he plans to produce a fresh bill in about a week scuttling and replacing much of President Barack Obama's health care law. But he's also acknowledging a Plan B if that effort continues to flounder. (Schreiner and Fram, 7/7)
USA Today:
McConnell: If GOP Health Bill Dies, Bipartisan Fix Will Be Needed
“No action is not an alternative,” McConnell said. “We’ve got the insurance markets imploding all over the country, including in this state.” Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., jumped on the Republican leader's comments, saying McConnell "opened the door to bipartisan solutions." (Collins, 7/6)
The New York Times:
Unlikely Holdout Underscores Challenge For Senate Health Bill
Cheryl Hofstetter Duffy began by telling Senator Jerry Moran that she was a breast cancer survivor. Then she asked why the debate over the Affordable Care Act was focused on repealing and replacing the law, rather than simply making it better. When she finished, the crowd jammed into a community center on Thursday applauded. Mr. Moran, a Kansas Republican who came out last week against the Senate leadership’s repeal bill, picked up on the sentiment, lamenting that both parties were locked in opposition over health care, with Republicans pursuing repeal and Democrats saying, he said, “Not one inch are we giving.” “And so the rhetoric puts us into the corners of the ring,” he said, “and never a meeting of the minds.” (Kaplan, 7/6)
Politico:
Rand And Donald’s Wild Health Care Ride
After a bitter rivalry during the 2016 presidential campaign, Sen. Rand Paul and President Donald Trump just can’t quit each other. And they are teaming up to confound everyone in Washington on the GOP’s attempts to repeal Obamacare. After Paul dubbed candidate Trump an “orange-faced windbag” and Trump questioned whether candidate Paul had a “properly functioning brain,” the two have begun to build a strong relationship. Trump has expended major energy courting Paul and they’ve developed what Paul calls a “good rapport.” They’ve played golf and chat regularly on the phone. (Everett and Dawsey, 7/7)
The Hill:
Senate Republicans Say They're Weeks Away From Healthcare Vote
Republican senators are downplaying the chances of a quick vote next week on their ObamaCare replacement bill amid divisions in the party over what the legislation should look like. "We're still several weeks away from a vote, I think,” Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) said at an event Wednesday. (Sullivan, 7/6)
Los Angeles Times:
Republicans Are In Charge. So Why Can't They Deliver On Healthcare?
For the better part of a decade, “repeal and replace” has been Republican gospel, a political talking point and policy manifesto. Other issues that long served as the glue holding together the disparate GOP coalition — free trade, a deep and abiding suspicion of Russia, “traditional family values” — have loosened their grip on the party and its voters. (Barabak, 7/6)
Politico:
How The Senate Health Bill Became ‘Obamacare Lite’
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell famously promised to rip out Obamacare “root and branch,” a sentiment echoed by Republicans on the campaign trail for seven years. But Obamacare is proving harder to eradicate than kudzu, and Republicans may be stuck with major parts of Barack Obama’s legacy. (Demko, 7/6)
Sacramento Bee:
Dianne Feinstein Bashes Senate Health Care Bill
Sen. Dianne Feinstein is in San Francisco today, where she’s holding a press conference to deliver a message on her home turf about her staunch opposition to Senate Republicans’ health care bill... Under the GOP bill, the federal government would shift a large share of health care costs to states. (Hart and Svirnovskiy, 7/7)