‘Do What You Can’ Senate Republicans try once more to rewrite ObamaCare. by James Freeman
https://www.wsj.com/articles/do-what-you-can-1500570683
“Majority Leader Mitch McConnell spurred Republican senators Thursday to resolve internal disputes that have pushed their marquee health care bill to the brink of oblivion,” reports the Associated Press. At a White House meeting on Wednesday, President Trump urged the GOP lawmakers to try one more time to avoid pushing themselves into political oblivion.
According to the A.P.:
Aiming to finally resolve the issue, McConnell has said he’ll force a vote on the legislation early next week.
After a face-to-face lecture from Trump, around two dozen of them staged a nearly three-hour bargaining session Wednesday night to resolve their disputes. When it was over, none offered specific examples of any progress.
“We still do have work to do to get to a vote of 50, but people are committed to continuing that work,” said Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., a member of the GOP leadership who hosted the meeting in his office.
Also attending Wednesday’s private meeting were health secretary Tom Price and Seema Verma, the Medicaid and Medicare administrator. It was interrupted by prayer after the lawmakers learned that [Sen. John] McCain, 80, had a cancerous brain tumor.
Earlier Wednesday at the White House, Trump told them they must not leave town for their August recess without sending him an “Obamacare” repeal bill to sign.
“I’m ready to act,” Trump said, foisting the responsibility on Republican lawmakers, not himself.
Of course it’s the U.S. Constitution, not Donald Trump, that has foisted the responsibility of passing bills on the elected legislators. And, as reported by the Journal, Mr. Trump makes a good case that GOP senators have a moral responsibility as well:
“Any senator who votes against starting debate is really telling America that you’re fine with Obamacare,” Mr. Trump said before a lunch with the senators Wednesday. He gestured at one wavering GOP lawmaker, Dean Heller of Nevada, saying, “He wants to remain a senator, doesn’t he?” and warned lawmakers not to leave town in August without a deal.
“I’m ready to act, I have pen in hand, believe me, I’m sitting in that office. You’ve never had that before,” Mr. Trump said. “For seven years, you’ve had an easy rap: ‘We’ll repeal, we’ll replace, and he’s never going to sign it.’” CONTINUE AT SITE
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