Why aren't we hearing about the so-called moderate Republican Senators?

[Beaverhausen]

This is all I could find:

Other Republican senators, like Dean Heller of Nevada and Rob Portman of Ohio, expressed their own qualms, as did AARP, the American Hospital Association, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and the Association of American Medical Colleges.

from here:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/22/us/politics/senate-health-care-bill.html


I thought Murkowski and Collins didn't want medicaid cuts, etc.

[dawg]

1. They are cowering - hoping that the legislation will be blocked by conservatives ...

who want it to be even more draconian.

However, if push comes to shove, I expect they'll fall in line and vote for it. That's what they did in the House.

[Hoyt]

2. Some of those against the Senate Bill think it's to rich and should provide more cuts and even less

coverage.

While I'm glad the Hospital Association, etc., are against it, but much of that is because they'll make less money if the coverage is skimpy.

[CK_John]

3. They are just part of the RNC shameless cast of nobodys.

[pansypoo53219]

4. primary fears.

[jpak]

5. Collins is holding out to see how she will vote

IF they get 50 + VP - she will vote against it

They the need her vote to get 50 + VP - she will vote for it and give some lame excuse for it.

This is her MO.

yup

[NastyRiffraff]

6. Where's McCain?

He was bloviating about how bad it all was. He'll ask for some very minor, meaningless change, he'll get it, then he'll vote for it. That's his MO.

[irisblue]

7. Portman is not a moderate, he only plays one when cameras are on.

[gratuitous]

8. For the same reason we don't hear about unicorn sightings

Heller has apparently made some noises today that indicate he might be a no vote. Not clear if he's fishing for goodies or if he's serious. If no goodies are forthcoming from Republican leadership, it will warn the rest of the caucus that withholding your vote won't get you a pocket full of nice things. If Heller is rewarded with some do-nothing amendments, we'll probably see other Republicans line up for their spin at the Wheel of Goodies.

On the other hand, if Heller is serious, that means there's just one more safe spot open, and we'll probably see Murkowski and Collins battle it out for that place in the lifeboat. If both of them come out as "nyet" on the bill, then Republicans will ratchet up the pressure on someone like Joe Manchin of West Virginia, which would be the best of all possible worlds: One Democrat joins with 49 Republicans to deadlock this bipartisan bill, and Vice President Pence gets to ride in on a white horse and cast the deciding vote to pass it.

And the peasants rejoice.