Pence stops in Chicago to meet with top Republicans

Chicago Tribune (IL)

June 25--Vice President Mike Pence stopped in Chicago on Saturday, rallying top Republican officials to support the party's health care plan amid deep concerns among some rank-and-file senators over a plan poised for a vote soon.

"This is our moment. Now is the time. Every moment Obamacare survives is another day America suffers," Pence posted on his personal Twitter account about his remarks to a gathering of the Republican National Committee at a downtown hotel.

"Before summer's out, we'll repeal/replace Obamacare w(ith)/system based on personal responsibility, free market competition & state-based reform," the former Indiana governor tweeted. His posts often accompanied by photos of his appearance in a hotel ballroom.

Pence added, "That's the Republican way. That's the American way. And that's the way we're going to reform health care in the 21st Century."

Pence's visit comes as Senate Republicans review a new health care plan and weigh the political benefits and liabilities of moving forward. The proposal differs in some aspects from a House measure approved earlier this year. It includes provisions that would affect those lower-income or disabled individuals who gained health coverage through an expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, as well as premium spikes for older Americans not yet eligible for Medicare.

The issue is acute for many states that expanded healthcare eligibility under the joint federal-state Medicaid program. The Senate GOP plan would give states three years to adjust to a sizable loss of federal reimbursement for Medicaid expansion.

But some GOP senators representing states that rapidly expanded Medicaid health care coverage have said the time frame is too short to adjust budgets. Currently, the federal government pays 95 percent of the costs of the expanded enrollment. At least five Republican senators have said they can't vote for the latest version in its present form. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell can't lose more than two and still pass the plan.

In Illinois, about 650,000 residents could lose Medicaid coverage under the Senate bill, and subsequent effects of state law, in 2021.

Some Republican governors who agreed to the Medicaid expansion have voiced concerns to the Senate and President Donald Trump's administration, such as Ohio Gov. John Kasich. In Illinois, which is undergoing a deep budget crisis, Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration has only said it has "concerns" as it reviews the plan, a response eliciting scorn from Democrats including prospective challengers next year.

The vice president also noted recent special election congressional victories by Republican candidates, including last week's victory by Karen Handel in suburban Atlanta over a strong challenge mounted by Democrat John Ossoff.

"I've got Georgia on my mind & it's driving nat'l media crazy," Pence tweeted. In a follow up post, he added, "The President promised we'd get tired of winning & a lot of people in the media are getting tired, but they better get used to it."

Pence left Chicago on Air Force Two in the afternoon to join Trump at the wedding of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Illinois State Police said his motorcade may have caused a temporary traffic holdup but that the roads were clear as of 2:30 p.m.

Chicago Tribune's Marwa Eltagouri contributed.

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