Senators Return From Break To Try To Tackle Health Care Before August Recess
They have three weeks before they're scheduled to leave town again.
The Associated Press:
Battles Over Health Care, Budget Await Congress' Return
Congress is still trying to send President Donald Trump his first unqualified legislative triumph, nearly six months after Republicans grabbed full control of Washington. Now, lawmakers are returning from their July 4 recess with an added objective — averting some full-blown political disasters. (Fram, 7/10)
The Wall Street Journal:
Following Recess, GOP Health-Care Push Gets Trickier
The focus on possible steps to take if Senate Republicans can’t unite around a health bill is the strongest sign yet of the growing pessimism about the fate of the GOP legislation and the party’s seven-year pledge to topple the ACA. Some Republicans now say a vote to pass a bill could stretch beyond August, if there is a vote at all. (Armour, 7/9)
Politico:
Senate GOP Returns From Break No Closer To Obamacare Deal
Senate Republicans appear miles away from their long-sought repeal of Obamacare, returning to Washington on Monday with just a few weeks to put the pieces back together before they could be forced to abandon their partisan attempts at a health care overhaul altogether. (Everett, 7/9)
The New York Times:
G.O.P. Support Of Senate Health Repeal Erodes During Break
A week that Senate Republicans had hoped would mobilize conservatives and shore up support for their measure to repeal the Affordable Care Act instead ended with eroding enthusiasm, as usually reliable Republican senators from red states blanched at its impact on rural communities. With Congress set to return on Monday after a week’s recess, Republican lawmakers are increasingly aware that their seven-year promise to dismantle President Barack Obama’s largest policy achievement is deeply imperiled. (Steinhauer and Pear, 7/8)
The Associated Press:
2 GOP Senators Suggest Bill To Repeal Health Care Law 'Dead'
The initial GOP bill to repeal and replace the nation's health law is probably "dead" and President Donald Trump's proposal to just repeal it appears to be a "non-starter," two moderate Republican senators indicated Sunday as their party scrambled to salvage faltering legislation. "We don't know what the plan is," said Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La. "Clearly, the draft plan is dead. Is the serious rewrite plan dead? I don't know." Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said it may now be time for Republicans to come up with a new proposal with support from Democrats. (Yen, 7/10)
Los Angeles Times:
With Senate Republicans At An Impasse Over Obamacare, Many Ask: Now What?
Senate Republicans, having hit an apparent impasse in their long campaign to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, return to Washington this week in search of a way forward, with support dwindling, time running out and deep divisions within their ranks. Options are limited as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) assesses the legislative landscape for his Obamacare replacement, which has virtually no hope of passing unless it is substantially amended. (Mascaro and Levey, 7/10)
NPR:
FAQ: How Would The Senate Health Care Bill Affect You?
When covering the GOP efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, we tend to focus on the big picture: billions of cuts in Medicaid spending, say, or millions of fewer people with health coverage. But the real impacts would be felt in states, cities and towns, and they would vary a lot depending on where you live, how old you are and your particular health concerns. (7/10)