McConnell Resurrecting the Otherwise Dead Repeal and Replace Issue?

Mich McConnell. Photo by Gage Skidmore

The fight over the Affordable Care Act might see one more chapter until it will be forever put to rest on September 30.

The Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell and those colleagues on his leadership team, are once again seriously considering a desperate last effort to repeal Obamacare. The bill McConnell is considering bringing to a vote would limit the role of the federal government in the health care system by substituting its involvement with block grants to states.

The final decision on whether to hold a vote has not yet happened, but McConell told his caucus that if he can get 50 of the 52 Republican senators to support the bill, written by Senators Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy, he will bring it to the Senate for a vote.

At the moment, the bill does not have the minimum of 50 supporters among the 52 Republican senators. The bill, if passed, would replace the tax subsidies that are the basis of the ACA with block grants; curtail the individual insurance mandate, and reduce the Medicaid expansion. Nevertheless, McConell and his team will take the pulse of the senate this week during private meetings arranged with President Trump’s assistance.

“McConnell and his team are engaged and serious about the vote and working with the conference to build support for Graham-Cassidy,” a source said Sunday. The “White House is also operating with all hands on deck.”

Gail Nussbaum

Gail Nussbaum has been involved in politics and diplomacy for over 15 years. Her interest in foreign relations, economics and budget policy has led her to her position as fiscal policy writer at Left Justified. Gail can be contacted at gailnussbaum(at)leftjustified.com.

View all posts by Gail Nussbaum →