Unwinding Obamacare

‘Republicans Aren't Done With Obamacare Repeal’

“Republican leaders are serious about one last attempt to overhaul Obamacare. What began last week as a long-shot option after Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana introduced their latest blueprint to overhaul the health care system has transformed into an all-hands-on-deck operation at the Capitol.” (“Republicans Aren't Done With Obamacare Repeal,” CNN Politics, 9/17/2017)

• “‘McConnell and his team are engaged and serious about the vote and working with the conference to build support for Graham-Cassidy…” (“Senate GOP Tries One Last Time To Repeal Obamacare,” Politico, 9/17/2017)

• “Asked if it was time to take the Graham-Cassidy bill seriously, one senior Democratic aide simply responded, ‘Yes.’” (“Republicans Aren't Done With Obamacare Repeal,” CNN Politics, 9/17/2017)

• “…the fresh flurry of activity marked the most serious attempt since the failed July vote to revive the long-standing Republican pledge to undo a law that has been vilified on the right. Among those joining the effort is Vice President Pence, who has been making calls to GOP senators and governors in support of the bill, according to a senior administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the vice president’s private talks.” (“New Push To Replace Obamacare Reflects High Stakes For Republicans,” The Washington Post, 9/18/2017)

“Republicans are facing an end-of-September deadline to pass healthcare-related legislation through the budget-reconciliation process, which allows them to move measures with a simple-majority vote. … The Senate parliamentarian, an official of sorts for the chamber's rules, said the budget-reconciliation rules attached to the fiscal 2017 budget would expire at the end of the month.” (“Republicans' Last-Ditch Effort On Obamacare Repeal Is Gaining Some Steam — But It Still Faces Key Hurdles,” Business Insider, 9/15/2017)

SEN. GRAHAM: ‘Sending The Money And The Power Out Of Washington Back To Where You Live’

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): “What we do is we'll repeal the individual mandate, the employer mandate. We take all the money we'd spend on Obamacare and block grant it back to the state…. It will allow governors to control health care with the state legislators.” (Fox News’ “The Story with Martha MacCallum,” 9/13/2017)

SEN. BILL CASSIDY (R-LA): “I approach this as a physician…. We try and change [the system] to give a patient … or that self-employed person, wherever she or he may live, the ability to have affordable health insurance.” (Sen. Cassidy, Press Conference, 9/13/2017)

PRESIDENT TRUMP: “I applaud the Senate for continuing to work toward a solution to relieve the disastrous Obamacare burden on the American people…. As I have continued to say, inaction is not an option, and I sincerely hope that Senators Graham and Cassidy have found a way to address the Obamacare crisis.” (“Statement By President Donald J. Trump On The Efforts Of Senators Graham And Cassidy To Repeal And Replace Obamacare,” 9/13/2017)

HOUSE SPEAKER PAUL RYAN (R-WI): “I appreciate Senators Graham and Cassidy continuing to work on a plan to pass the Senate. I’ll take federalism over Obamacare any day.” (Speaker Ryan, @SpeakerRyan, Twitter, 9/15/2017)

GOV. DOUG DUCEY (R-AZ): “Graham-Cassidy is the best path forward to repeal and replace Obamacare…. Congress has 12 days to say ‘yes’ … It’s time for them to get the job done.” (Gov. Ducey, @dougducey, Twitter, 9/18/2017)

GOV. SCOTT WALKER (R-WI): “I think it’s awesome… On healthcare, there are many of us in general who think sending more responsibilities and resources back to the states is directly what our founders intended in the Constitution be it healthcare, education, transportation, or otherwise. What a perfect way to kick start a true repeal and replace of Obamacare by sending it back to the states where we’re definitely more effective, more efficient, and more accountable to the people.” (“Gov. Scott Walker Backs Renewed Push To Repeal Obamacare: ‘A Winner All The Way Around,’” Breitbart, 8/30/2017)

SEN. DEAN HELLER (R-NV): “Doing nothing to try to solve Obamacare’s failures isn’t an option…. The Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson plan is the most viable solution to achieving our health care reform goals by recognizing Obamacare’s failed one-size-fits-all approach and returning power to the states…. I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting a plan that allows our governors and legislatures the flexibility to support programs that are currently working in our states and to explore new options to address coverage and cost.” (Sen. Cassidy, Press Release, 9/13/2017)

SEN. RON JOHNSON (R-WI): “Returning more health care decisions to the states and ensuring equal treatment for states like Wisconsin that spend taxpayer dollars wisely will allow local leaders to tailor their health care system to the needs of its citizens while maintaining protections for those with high cost and pre-existing conditions.” (Sen. Cassidy, Press Release, 9/13/2017)

SEN. JEFF FLAKE (R-AZ): “Graham-Cassidy plan to Repeal And Replace Obamacare has my support. It ought to be brought to the senate floor” (Sen. Flake, @JeffFlake, Twitter, 9/17/2017)