Senate Referee Rejects Key Pieces Of Repeal Bill, Dealing Major Blow To GOP

[briv1016]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by muriel_volestrangler (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Huffington Post

WASHINGTON — Efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act ran into big trouble on Friday afternoon, when the Senate parliamentarian ruled that nearly a dozen key provisions of GOP repeal legislation violate special procedural rules that Republicans are using to pass their bill.

The list of provisions includes a clause, which many conservatives consider essential, that would defund Planned Parenthood and block federal money from helping to pay for insurance policies that cover abortion. Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough also ruled out a six-month “lockout” period for people trying to buy insurance after they have let it lapse ― a key policy feature of the Senate bill that insurers say is vital to keeping markets stable.

[snip]

Politically, the biggest blow for Republicans is the ruling that a provision prohibiting funds from being used to purchase insurance policies that cover abortion. That rider was key to House conservatives accepting their version of the legislation, and Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows suggested that, without that prohibition, the bill could not pass the House on the way back from the Senate.

[snip]

Additionally, the parliamentarian isn’t the final arbiter of what the Senate may consider in reconciliation. It’s the presiding officer, who in this case would likely be Vice President Mike Pence. The presiding officer could simply ignore the parliamentarian’s guidance ― a move that conservatives like Cruz have suggested Republicans consider, even though it would flout Senate traditions and other Republicans have hinted they would not support it.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/senate-parliamentarian-byrd-rule-health-care_us_59727d12e4b00e4363df9867?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009

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The last paragraph kind of nullifies all the rest, but it's still a noteworthy development.

[Iliyah]

1. Fire him or her!

Get someone in there that will do the bidding of the evil arse GOPers!

sarcasm noted.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. The other option

is if Turtle tries to go nuclear with standard legislation and torpedoes the filibuster altogether. Thing is that also might not get enough votes to occur.

[PoliticAverse]

4. There aren't enough votes to eliminate the legislative filibuster. The most likely run around...

is the "presiding officer could simply ignore the parliamentarian’s guidance" mentioned in the article.

[TomCADem]

9. You Just Need 50 Votes to End Filibuster + Pence

Trump has been pushing for this option. Heck, Republicans were more than happy to end the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees. Why stop there?

[PoliticAverse]

10. There are several Republicans who don't want to eliminate the legislative filibuster.

Those Republicans supported the elimination for Supreme Court nominations but they
aren't likely to change their mind where legislation is involved.

Similarly Democrats supported Harry Reid when he eliminated the filibuster for
judicial and cabinet appointees but didn't support eliminating the filibuster for
legislation.

[Volaris]

11. Because the smart ones know that the GOP will be fucked for 30 years

If the dems ever get the Senate back. That legislative filibuster is the Rock that post-gingrich conservatism is built on. If they take a hammer to it, the process of wrecking govt by making it useless will fall apart as soon as competent caring peeps get elected to run said government (that means dems).

[a kennedy]

3. Yeeehaaaa.......now where's that cartoon of Barack on vacation???

you know, the one with the headline Obamacare is still the law of the land......can't find it though.

[George II]

5. The dolts can't even get THAT right! Keystone Kops.

[SergeStorms]

6. The GOP.....

will just keep changing the rules, OR BREAK ANY RULE THEY WANT, until they get their way. They control everything, and they don't seem to want to follow ANY rule of law, so I believe it's a fait accompli.

Maybe I'm just too cynical lately. I just don't see any way to stop these ruthless, lawless bastards. There isn't a single Republican with a conscience. Political power has blinded them to everything; the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, Parliamentary procedure, ANY LAW, ANY PROCEDURE......... They care nothing about this country or the people who live within in it.

Maybe I need to take a break from this disastrous dumbfuckery for a while.

[keithbvadu2]

7. This just plays into their hand. Now they can whine that the rules stop them from doing what they ha

This just plays into their hand. Now they can whine that the rules stop them from doing what they have not been able to do when the rules allowed it.

[groundloop]

8. Pence will simply dictate that gopers can do what the hell ever they want

Fuck the rules, fire the Parliamentarian, screw working people.... they just don't care.

[GulfCoast66]

12. The moderates will grab this lifeline

They will tell the turtle that rules prevent these things and they will not vote to override the parliamentarian. Thus squaring the circle for them...we wanted to vote for these things but were not allowed to.

[SergeStorms]

13. What "moderates"?

There don't seem to be any "moderates" in the Senate Republicans anymore. As in the past, they seem to be walking in lockstep with whatever Yertle proposes, which is whatever Trump proposes. The Senate Republicans are lawless and ruthless, without a single one of them possessing anything that could be even slightly construed as a conscience. They're power mad, and have no concern for our nation or the people in it.

[riversedge]

14. Good list of provisions that could be ruled out here.........

Also, it is a pdf doc at link.....

X-posted.............


https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029357336


b]
Democrats Score Gigantic Win As Major Parts Obamacare Repeal Will Require 60 Senate Votes

http://www.politicususa.com/2017/07/21/democrats-score-giagantic-win-major-parts-obamacare-repeal-require-60-senate-votes.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

By Jason Easley on Fri, Jul 21st, 2017 at 8:22 pm

Democrats scored a huge win as the Senate Parliamentarian ruled that major provisions of the Obamacare repeal bill will require 60 votes to pass.


Here are the provisions of the Obamacare repeal bill that will require 60 votes in the Senate:

• Defunding Planned Parenthood: This section prohibits Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid funds for one year. (Sec. 124)

• Abortion Restrictions for Tax Credits: Two separate provisions contain Hyde Amendment language to prevent premium tax credits and small business tax credits from being used to purchase health insurance that covers abortion. (Sec. 102(d)(1) and Sec. 103(b))

• Sunset of Essential Health Benefits Requirement for Medicaid: This provision states that, beginning in 2020, states no longer have to cover essential health benefits in their Medicaid alternative benefit plans. (Sec. 126(b))

• Funding for Cost-Sharing Subsidies: This section replicates current law by providing funding for the subsidies through 2019. (Sec. 208)...More...........

Link to tweet

BUT.....

Link to tweet

[riversedge]

15. I think The Hill does a good job of explaining some of the details of the rules....

Parliamentarian deals setback to GOP repeal bill



http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/343234-parliamentarian-deals-setback-to-gop-healthcare-bill
By Nathaniel Weixel - 07/21/17 06:06 PM EDT



......Additionally, a "lockout" provision requiring consumers with a break in coverage to wait six months before buying insurance also violates the rules, according to the guidance.


The provision was added to the bill to address concerns that people would only sign up for health insurance when they're sick, if insurers are still prevented from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions.

The parliamentarian also advised that a specific provision dealing with New York State's Medicaid program would be a violation of the rules. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) seized on that decision.

"The parliamentarian made clear that state-specific provisions" violate the rules, Schumer said. "This will greatly tie the majority leader’s hands as he tries to win over reluctant Republicans with state-specific provisions. We will challenge every one of them.”

Peter Sullivan contributed. Updated at 7:18 p.m.

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. Locking - duplicate thread

of https://www.democraticunderground.com/10141826522 . Please continue discussion there. Thanks.