Moran, a previous wild card, not taking sides yet in new health care push
The
Where Moran comes down on the new legislation could help determine its fate, depending on how much support it picks up from fellow senators.
Sen.
That makes every
Moran isn't taking a public position -- at least not yet.
"
Sen.
The 141-page bill would replace much of Affordable Care Act with block grants to states and would give them wide leeway to decide how to spend the money. It would end the ACA's requirement that most Americans buy insurance and that companies offer coverage to workers.
The sponsors say their proposal would let states decide what health care programs work best for their residents. Opponents say the plan's cuts in Medicaid and easing of insurance requirements would cause millions to become uninsured and leave others with skimpy, unaffordable coverage.
"I think at the end of the day, it's very similar to all the previous legislation that failed in the
The non-partisan
The procedure allowing the
The latest push for a health care overhaul comes after repeal efforts were mostly dead. Moran played a key role in helping kill a health care bill in July after facing intense opposition to the legislation at town halls.
"We must now start fresh with an open legislative process to develop innovative solutions that provide greater personal choice, protections for pre-existing conditions, increased access and lower overall costs for Kansans," Moran said then.
Whether the new bill meets that standard for Moran is unclear. But the senator, who doesn't face reelection for more than five years, has political space to reject the bill if he chooses.
Moran is a typically loyal Republican vote. That made his no vote in July all the more striking.
"It was very surprising to me and I think a lot of other people that he was one of the names that was out there as not being on board with Republican leadership," said
Contributing:
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