Republican Senator, Ted Cruz declared his doubts about the Graham-Cassidy Bill on account of its effect on the Affordable Care Act. The Texas Senator tweeted:
“Texans need a form of healthcare that will focus on consumer freedom and allow for further job creation and growth.”
“Texans need a form of healthcare that will focus on consumer freedom and allow for further job creation and growth” #TribFest17 pic.twitter.com/447uIpkeI4
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) September 24, 2017
Replies soon followed pointing out how that is impossible with Obamacare going out of the window and being replaced with Trumpcare (more like Trump-uncare).
Senator John McCain and Senator Rand Paul are determined to vote against the proposal. While Senator Susan Collins has strongly hinted towards a ‘no’ as well. Senator Lisa Murkowski and Senator Mike Lee too are inclined towards a ‘no’. The future of the Graham-Cassidy proposal looks bleak with increasing number of Republican Senators not liking the idea.
Senator Cruz didn’t declare an absolute disagreement with the proposal though. At the Texas Tribune Fest, he said:
“Right now they don’t have my vote and I don’t think they have Mike Lee’s either.”
So, we might see Senator Lee of Utah join the better side as well. Joni Ernst’s Iowa City conference showed the agitation building up in America. The Town Hall discussion on Friday was indication enough that the White House might be biting off more than it can chew with its determination to pass the Graham-Cassidy proposal.
Modifications in the proposal are absolutely required if it is to be passed at all. Senator Cruz said “Now, I want to be a yes”, indicating his will to favor the proposal if certain changes are made. Without a doubt those changes are about Obamacare. Senator Cruz had a meeting with Bill Cassidy and Lindsey Graham, to discuss his suggestions to modify the proposal, particularly focusing on Obama’s Medicaid expansion and the health insurance subsidies involving federal block grants. Senator Cruz clearly stated:
“We said if you take these edits we’re a yes. They took our edits and a day later they removed our edits.”
This move must have helped Cruz and Lee incline more against the proposal in its entirety, although they were initially in favor, thanks to the unmistakable betrayal and untrustworthy attitude.
The Republican Party needs to give its final decision about the Obamacare repeal bill within September 30, if it is to be done by a simple majority. Senator Cruz calls this deadline a “bogus” one because he thinks budget resolutions and reconciliations should be available to be done “at any point”.
However, the Republicans would need to include more rules about healthcare setups in the coming financial budget resolution if they want to repeal Obamacare by a simple majority after the end of this month. At least till September 30, looks like common people needing healthcare are not going to start dying off just yet.
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