What They’re Saying: Heller-Sponsored Health Care Reform Bill ‘A Triumph of Federalism’

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- The office of Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., issued the following news release:

National media outlets continue to highlight the Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson (GCHJ) health care reform bill following last week's unveiling. The proposal repeals the structure and architecture of Obamacare and replaces it with a block grant given annually to states to help cover health care costs.

The legislation removes the decisions from Washington and gives states significant latitude over how the dollars are used to best take care of the unique health care needs of the patients in each state.

Take a look at some of articles below:

Pence to Senate Republicans: Now's your chance for repeal

Axios

Jonathan Swan

Vice President Mike Pence is throwing the Trump administration's weight behind the latest Affordable Care Act repeal bill -- and against a bipartisan effort to stabilize the marketplaces. In an interview on Air Force Two, Pence told me he'll call on all Senate Republicans to support the bill by Sens. Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy at a lunch meeting this afternoon, saying,

"This is the moment. Now is the time."

Gov. Scott Walker Backs Renewed Push To Repeal Obamacare: 'A Winner All The Way Around

Breitbart

Matt Boyle

"I think it's awesome... On healthcare, there are many of us in general who think sending more responsibilities and resources back to the states is directly what our founders intended in the Constitution be it healthcare, education, transportation, or otherwise. What a perfect way to kick start a true repeal and replace of Obamacare by sending it back to the states where we're definitely more effective, more efficient, and more accountable to the people."

One Last ObamaCare Try

Wall Street Journal

Editorial Board

The bill replaces money spent on tax credits and Medicaid expansion with block grants to states, which would allow Governors to experiment with insurance reforms. Another selling point is that a rejiggered formula will divvy up federal dollars more equitably, as states such as Massachusetts and California haul in an outsize share under current law.

Graham-Cassidy Is a Triumph of Federalism

National Review|

Theodore Kupfer

"If the bill became law, it would therefore be a genuine federalist triumph.

A large portion of the federal money now set to fund the Medicaid expansion and subsidies of the Affordable Care Act would be instead distributed to individual states. Each state would have the freedom and means to develop its own health-care system."

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey: 'Graham-Cassidy Is the Best Path Forward to Repeal and Replace Obamacare'

Breitbart

Sean Moran

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey endorsed the Graham-Cassidy Obamacare repeal legislation in a tweet on Monday, suggesting that the bill "is the best path forward to repeal and replace Obamacare."

Greenspan Backs Bid to Replace Obamacare With Grants to States

Bloomberg

Laura Litvan

Greenspan, who held office from 1987 until 2006, said in a statement that a measure proposed by four Senate Republicans on Wednesday represents a "giant step forward" because it provides grants to states to provide health coverage. The measure -- sponsored by Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Dean Heller of Nevada and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin -- "as best I can judge, will make health care more affordable, more accessible, and I believe it will lead to better outcomes for patients," Greenspan said in a statement.

Republicans Really Could Repeal Obamacare This Time

Five Thirty Eight

Perry Bacon Jr.

Written by Sens. Bill Cassidy (Louisiana), Lindsey Graham (South Carolina), Dean Heller (Nevada) and Ron Johnson (Wisconsin), the legislation -- unlike previous Obamacare repeal proposals -- gives a lot of power to states to set their own healthcare policies.

ObamaCare push may show Senate Republicans 'getting there'

FoxNews.com

Joseph Weber

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., says he's just one or two votes shy of the minimum 50-vote threshold, with 52 Republicans senators in the chamber. He said last week that Democrats and Republicans alike have said, "If we give states the flexibility to come up with their own solutions, they will find solutions that work better for their states than" ObamaCare.

Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy: Graham-Cassidy returns control to states