The Senate GOP fight to repeal ObamaCare might not be over yet
Graham-Cassidy, the latest Senate Republican effort to repeal large parts of the Affordable Care Act and transform Medicaid, appeared to have died its final death on Monday evening, when Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) joined Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) in stating her intention to vote no on the bill if it comes up for a vote this week. The Senate GOP's ability to pass a health-care bill with just 50 Republican votes, through the budget reconciliation process, ends Saturday, and Republicans have committed to using next fiscal year's budget resolution to pass tax reform with only GOP votes. But in theory, Republicans could combine health care and tax reform in the same budget vehicle, and that idea is gaining steam.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), both sponsors of Graham-Cassidy, are pushing to combine tax reform and health care, and both Sen. Paul and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) are among those interested in the idea. Others, including GOP House tax leaders, are wary of threatening tax reform by mixing it up with an ObamaCare repeal effort that has thwarted Republicans all year. "I think we need to move onto tax reform," said Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), adding about Graham-Cassidy: "I think this bill's dead."
But it didn't earn the nickname "Zombie TrumpCare" for nothing. Johnson and Graham are both on the Senate Budget Committee, and if both joined all committee Democrats in voting against a budget resolution without health care, it wouldn't pass, meaning tax reform would be at an impasse, too. Both senators threatened to do that on Sunday and Monday. "I think this whole thing is going to get derailed by health care," a GOP lobbyist told Axios. "There are a lot of Republicans who are sick of dealing with health care," says Caitlin Owens at Axios. But President Trump and GOP donors large and small are insistent, and "as we've seen over the last 10 days, it becomes politically difficult for the GOP to ignore a glimmer of hope when it comes to repealing the Affordable Care Act."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
What does 'Quiet on the Set' mean for the future of kids' TV?
In the Spotlight A new documentary exposes the 'dark underbelly' of Nickelodeon productions
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - March 27, 2024
Cartoons Wednesday's cartoons - Diddy raided, Biden investigated, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Reddit IPO values social media site at $6.4 billion
Speed Read The company makes its public debut on the New York Stock Exchange
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Housing costs: the root of US economic malaise?
speed read Many voters are troubled by the housing affordability crisis
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Feds cap credit card late fees at $8
speed read The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized a rule to save households an estimated $10 billion a year
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Immigration helped the US economy outpace peers
speed read The U.S. economy grew at an annualized rate of 3.2% last quarter
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
4-day workweek gets boost from UK study
Speed Read Following a six-month trial, the majority of participating British companies are still using the truncated schedule
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US sues to block Kroger-Albertsons merger
Speed Read The Federal Trade Commission sued to block the $24.6 billion merger between the grocery giants
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Nvidia sees historic stock rise on AI chips success
Speed Read U.S. chipmaker Nvidia achieved the biggest one-day increase in value of any company in history
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
New York may seize Trump's assets for $450M penalty
Speed Read The former president likely owes $600 million from two civil judgments in New York
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published