Posted on 03/09/2017 9:32:52 PM PST by TBP
That didn’t take long.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) has already released a statement, on his website, condemning the newly proposed House GOP replacement bill for Obamacare.
“This is not the Obamacare repeal bill we’ve been waiting for. It is a missed opportunity and a step in the wrong direction,” Sen. Lee said.
“We promised the American people we would drain the swamp and end business as usual in Washington. This bill does not do that. We don’t know how many people would use this new tax credit, we don’t know how much it will cost, and we don’t know if this bill will make health care more affordable for Americans.”
“This is exactly the type of back-room dealing and rushed process that we criticized Democrats for and it is not what we promised the American people.”
“Let’s fulfill our Obamacare repeal promise immediately and then take our time and do reform right. Let’s pass the 2015 repeal bill that Republicans in both houses of Congress voted for and sent to the White House just 15 months ago. Once Obamacare has been properly sent to the dustbin of history then we can begin a deliberative, open, and honest process to reform our nation’s health care system.”
It’s like he took the words right out of my mouth. We were promised repeal. We protested, marched, volunteered and got these people elected. Now is not the time to go weak in the knees. I stand with Mike Lee on this, we the people deserve better.
Politics is a team sport... our opponents are ‘the democrats’...
The primaries are long gone.
Cruz, Paul and Lee have excellent conservative voting records.
The senate is our weak spot.
Well, Ryan is too. That ####.
I rather liked Rand Paul’s Plan. Maybe thats what we need.
> We can do so much better than this. It’s time for full repeal, not Obamacare 2.0.
We don’t have the votes unless you know a way to convince the senate to get rid of the 60 vote requirement. I’m all for that.
Contact the president at whiteHouse. Gov
And let him know what you think
And may God forever smite from your collective vocabulary the obscene word "Comprehensive".
Not when the team is moving the wrong way.
No, it’s not about “teams.” It’s about ideas and principles, and keeping your word.
You’re the Senator, Mr. Lee. Go do your job.
The perils of getting rid of Obamacare:
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2017/03/07/why-obamacare-cannot-simply-be-repealed/
I read that. It’s very interesting. You should consider posting it as a article tomorrow.
I really really wish they’d stop calling it health care. It’s not health care. It’s friggen health insurance. There is a huge difference.
Good idea...in the morning when more will see it.
Here is the Congressional Research Service summary of the “Obamacare Repeal” Bill Passed by the House and Senate and vetoed by President Obama. Looks more like “Obamacare Defund” to me.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/3762?r=1
Shown Here:
Passed Senate amended (12/03/2015)
TITLE I—HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR, AND PENSIONS
(Sec. 101) This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to terminate the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which provides for investment in prevention and public health programs to improve health and restrain the rate of growth in health care costs. Unobligated funds are rescinded.
(Sec. 102) Funding for community health centers is increased.
(Sec. 103) Certain funding for U.S. territories that establish health insurance exchanges is no longer available after 2017.
(Sec. 104) The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may not collect fees or make payments under the transitional reinsurance program.
(Sec. 105) This bill makes appropriations for FY2016 and FY2017 for HHS to award grants to states to address substance abuse or to respond to urgent mental health needs.
TITLE II—FINANCE
(Sec. 201) This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to require individuals to pay back the full amount of advance payments in excess of their premium assistance tax credit. (Currently, there is a limit on the amount of excess an individual must pay back.)
(Sec. 202) Provisions relating to the premium assistance tax credit, reduced cost-sharing, and eligibility determinations for these subsidies are repealed on December 31, 2017.
(Sec. 203) The small employer health insurance tax credit does not apply after 2017. (This credit is for certain employers who make contributions toward employee health coverage purchased through a health insurance exchange.)
(Sec. 204) The penalty for individuals who do not maintain minimum essential health care coverage is eliminated.
(Sec. 205) Large employers are no longer required to make shared responsibility payments.
(Sec. 206) For one year, this bill restricts the availability of federal funding to a state for payments to an entity (e.g., Planned Parenthood Federation of America) that:
is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization;
is an essential community provider primarily engaged in family planning services and reproductive health;
provides for abortions other than abortions in cases of rape or incest, or where a physical condition endangers a woman’s life unless an abortion is performed; and
received a total of more than $350 million under Medicaid in FY2014, including payments to affiliates, subsidiaries, successors, or clinics.
(Sec. 207) This bill amends part A (General Provisions) of title XI of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to require the additional payments to U.S. territories for Medicaid under the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 to be made by the end of FY2017 instead of the end of FY2019.
This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the SSAct to end the expansion of Medicaid under PPACA on December 31, 2017.
After 2017, hospitals may no longer elect to provide Medicaid services to individuals during a presumptive eligibility period.
States must maintain Medicaid eligibility standards for individuals under 19 years old through FY2017 instead of through FY2019.
The federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP, the federal matching rate for Medicaid expenditures) for U.S. territories is 50% after 2017 (currently, the FMAP is 55%).
The increased FMAP for childless adults and home and community-based attendant services under PPACA ends December 31, 2017.
After 2017, states may no longer elect to provide certain individuals with a presumptive eligibility period for Medicaid.
Medicaid benchmark plans are no longer required to provide minimum essential health benefits after 2017.
After 2017, states are no longer required to operate a website for Medicaid enrollment that is linked to the state’s health benefit exchange and Children’s Health Insurance program (CHIP).
(Sec. 208) Medicaid allotments for disproportionate share hospitals are increased.
(Sec. 209) The excise tax on high cost employer-sponsored health coverage (popularly known as the “Cadillac tax”) does not apply after 2017.
(Sec. 210) Health savings accounts (HSAs), Archer medical savings accounts (MSAs), health flexible spending arrangements (HFSAs), and health reimbursement arrangements may be used to pay for over-the-counter medications.
(Sec. 211) This bill lowers the tax on distributions from HSAs and Archer MSAs that are not used for medical expenses.
(Sec. 212) Salary reduction contributions to an HFSA under a cafeteria plan are no longer limited.
(Sec. 213) The annual fee on manufacturers and importers of brand name prescription drugs is eliminated.
(Sec. 214) The excise tax on medical devices is eliminated.
(Sec. 215) The annual fee on health insurers is eliminated.
(Sec. 216) Medical costs are allowed as a tax deduction regardless of whether the costs are taken into account when determining the amount of the subsidy for an employer-sponsored retiree prescription drug plan under Medicare part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program).
(Sec. 217) A tax deduction is allowed for medical expenses in excess of 7.5% (currently, 10%) of adjusted gross income.
(Sec. 218) The additional Medicare tax on income above a certain threshold is eliminated.
(Sec. 219) The indoor tanning services tax is eliminated.
(Sec. 220) The net investment income tax is eliminated.
(Sec. 221) A health insurer is allowed a tax deduction for the full amount of an employee’s compensation. (Currently, there is a limit on the amount of an employee’s compensation that a health insurer may deduct.)
(Sec. 222) Provisions relating to the economic substance doctrine are repealed. (The economic substance doctrine treats a transaction as having economic substance if it has a purpose other than reducing income taxes. Currently, there are penalties for claiming tax benefits for transactions without economic substance.)
(Sec. 223) Funds are transferred from the Department of the Treasury to the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund.
“...Go do your job.”
***************************
Senator Lee IS doing his job. He doesn’t consider his job to be carrying the water for the Swamp RINOs; and neither do I.
The filibuster is a senate rule, not a constitutionally required mechanism.
It's called "change the rule". The majority party can change the rules if they can get enough votes to do so. There's nothing illegal or unconstitutional about it. The dems have NO problem doing that when it suits them.
Bears repeating!!! This President LISTENS... but we must SPEAK!!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.