San Antonio Express News: Senate unveils its Obamacare overhaul
The 142-page bill would create a new system of federal tax credits to help people buy health insurance, while offering states the ability to drop many of the benefits required by the Affordable Care Act, like maternity care, emergency services and mental health treatment.
But the measure landed in rough seas ahead of a vote that Majority Leader
Four conservative senators --
Their votes are more than enough to bring it down.
"It does not appear this draft as written will accomplish the most important promise that we made to Americans: to repeal Obamacare and lower their health care costs," the four wrote in a joint statement.
The loss of four
The dissenters' statement laid down a conservative marker: "There are provisions in this draft that represent an improvement to our current health care system, but it does not appear this draft as written will accomplish the most important promise that we made to Americans: to repeal Obamacare and lower their health care costs."
More moderate Republican senators, such as
"We are extremely disappointed by the
Once promised as a top-to-bottom revamp of the health bill passed by the House last month, the
The
But the
Older people could be disproportionately hurt because they pay more for insurance in general. Both chambers' bills would allow insurers to charge older people five times as much as younger ones; the limit now is three times.
The
It also would repeal most of the tax increases imposed by the Affordable Care Act -- a capital gains tax cut for the affluent would be retroactive for this year -- to pay for expanded coverage.
In effect, it would hand a broad tax cut to the affluent in a measure that also would slice billions of dollars from Medicaid, a health care program that serves 1 in 5 Americans, not only the poor but almost two-thirds of people in nursing homes.
The bill, drafted in secret, is likely to come to the
And former President
"The
"We are constrained by budget rules, and we'll do the very best we can under the circumstances," he told
He also blamed the
"What Trump called a 'mean, mean, mean' bill just got meaner," he said. "If you expect to grow old, get sick or have a child, you're a loser under this bill. Older Americans will pay more and get less than now. Those with pre-existing conditions will likely be unable to buy affordable insurance. Working families who rely on Medicaid will be denied coverage. Women will lose control over personal health decisions through a bill drafted by a handful of Republican men."
In the short term, the possible electoral consequences are more muted in the
But Republican leaders still must contend with internal divisions that will be difficult to overcome. Numerous Republican senators from states that expanded Medicaid are concerned about how a rollback of the program could affect their constituents, and they face pressure from governors back home.
Read this original document at: https://doggett.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/san-antonio-express-news-senate-unveils-its-obamacare-overhaul
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