Editorial: Senate GOPs bill more bitter pill than Better Care
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s apparent preference is to put legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act — a bill drafted behind closed doors by McConnell and a handful of Republicans over recent weeks — to a floor vote by next week following its release Thursday morning.
That secrecy and haste betrays a lack of confidence among its supporters that the “Better Care Reconciliation Act” will find favor among Americans or even among Senate Republicans who might have to face their constituents over the week-long Fourth of July holiday recess.
With 52 Republicans in the Senate — and certainly no support from Democrats — McConnell can lose the votes of only two Republicans. As of Thursday morning, The Washington Post was reporting that four Republican senators had indicated opposition and at least eight more had concerns.
There’s overwhelming reason for concern.
The Senate Republicans’ version, in trying to find the sweet spot among conservatives and more moderate Republicans, tweaks some provisions of the American Health Care Act passed by House Republicans. But both versions still amount to tax cuts for the wealthy — repealing the tax increases passed to pay for the ACA — disguised as health care reforms; they seek to cut federal support for Medicaid and insurance subsidies for low-income people and cancel Medicare reimbursements for women who rely on Planned Parenthood for their care.
http://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/editorial-senate-gops-bill-more-bitter-pill-than-better-care/?utm_source=DAILY+HERALD&utm_campaign=025ea04999-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d81d073bb4-025ea04999-228635337
