Republicans hammered Democrats seven and a-half years ago for larding Obamacare with state-specific payoffs and sweeteners to secure the last few votes for passage. Who can forget the “Cornhusker Kickback,” which funneled $45 million to Nebraska to nail the support of former Sen. Ben Nelson?
But the revised Senate Obamacare repeal bill shows Republicans engaged in the same pattern of horse trading as they try to win 50 ayes to advance an unpopular bill.
Leaders are likely to cook up even more deals to entice uncommitted senators. As conservative health policy expert Chris Jacobs points out at The Federalist, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell still has about $200 billion that he can spend on holdouts without breaking Senate budget rules he's using to try to pass the legislation. The Trump administration is pitching a proposal to Nevada as a way to bring Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval and Sen. Dean Heller on board that aims to move Medicaid expansion enrollees into the private insurance market where they could use subsidies to help pay for premiums.
Here’s a rundown of some of the ways the latest bill seeks to win over members of the GOP caucus:
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ReplyDeleteWhat a racket is the government.
This is a "Ponzi Scheme". This Health cost Law / Bill known as Healthcare / Obamacare has all the makings / markings of Bernie Madoff's scheme. Take from others and line my pocket while they get nothing in return. Politians are forcing tax payers to buy Health insurance at a cost where they have to pay twice with the high deductible and get nothing in return. Insurance companies are making out like champs with the lobbyist lining the pockets of the Politians. Proves my comments for years that all Politians are crooks and they only care about getting rich off the tax payer. I can say this and complain because I vote every time. Even if I have to vote for the best of the worst each time.
ReplyDeleteGod I am sick of this whole mess,it makes me really hate politicians and not just democrats but almost all politicians. There a few good ones but they are rare.
ReplyDeleteI mean the republicans have had 8 years to draft something up...
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