Posted on 06/23/2017 7:34:28 PM PDT by MaxistheBest
A pro-Trump outside group is launching an advertising blitz against Republican Sen. Dean Heller over his opposition to the health care repeal bill — a bold act of political retaliation against a member of the president’s own party.
Heller, a Nevada Republican, is up for re-election in 2018 and is seen as one of the most vulnerable incumbents up for reelection this cycle.
The barrage, which will be orchestrated by America First Policies, a group run by many of President Donald Trump’s top campaign advisers, is backed by more than a million dollars, according to multiple sources familiar with the planning. Digital ads are set to begin running on Friday, and television and radio spots are set to launch early next week.
A Heller spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The offensive was announced just hours after Heller declared that he would oppose the Obamacare repeal bill. Heller, said several officials with America First, has indicated privately to the White House that he is unlikely to get to “yes” on the current Senate version of the bill.
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Those involved with America First say the offensive is simply a ramped-up effort to keep Republicans in line – a role it has been hesitant to play until now.
"You do not want to mess with Donald Trump’s base in a primary, particularly in a place like Nevada,” said one America First official. “This kind of money in Nevada is real. … This is a beginning.”
The ad campaign will paint Heller as a “typical politician,” one of the sources familiar with the planning said, and will characterize him as standing with Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi against the White House.
Helleris up for reelection in 2018 and is one of the most vulnerable incumbents.
(Excerpt) Read more at lasvegassun.com ...
I just dread the prospect of Obamacare thoroughly collapsing on President Trump’s watch and the GOP absorbing the blame for not acting in due haste.
Most presidents suffer midterm congressional losses and the specter of President Trump paralyzed—or worse—by the dems is horrible to contemplate.
Mitch McConnell reportedly want to hold the vote on health care next week so that he can move ahead with budget matters.
Based on the once-per-year legislative reconciliation opportunity, this deadline ought to be met. Moreover, if the republicans fail to assemble a health care package, they will be further handicapped going forward with tax reform/cuts. Ideally, achieving success with health care offers the GOP more built-in savings to apply to taxes, infrastructure, border security (the Wall), etc.
I just hope the President Trump and his team can work expeditiously with Heller, Cruz, Lee, Johnson and Paul to iron out necessary amendments/changes to persuade them to vote for an ameliorated bill for passage next week.
My first vote as a Nevada state resident will be against this Rino.
Say it loud!
Have you seen the Senate's version of the plan? Even the House version?
Neither of those are patient-centered, market-based plans.
Both versions keep the framework of Obamacare, in which if the Democrats re-take Congress, it'll automatically get fast-tracked into single-payer.
Obamcare must be repealed, or else there will be single-payer.
Standing up for the people of his state which took the candy-bait of 100 percent federal funding for expanded Medicaid - this hooked thirty-two states into dependency on the Government to keep the money flowing for the 14 million new enrollees on the plan - what they’re not talking about is the fact that that funding is reduced to only 90 percent in a few years (and I’m guessing the law would eventually be rewritten to reduce the fed’s contributions even more) and that as that happens the states themselves will have to come up with over 70 billion dollars over the next ten years to make up the difference - Heller will probably make a fuss until the Republicans make some adjustments to the Medicaid part of their bill, then come aboard I would guess....
But no Republicans voted for Obamacare though.
If it collapses, the Democrats would get the blame.
But more importantly, why are you accepting the premise that the Republicans have to do something anyway?
Republicans are not obligated to save Obamacare, or make it "run better."
Look, Obamacare has completely destroyed the semi-market healthcare system in America that the best option is to simply repeal it and return back to market forces.
Because if you go back to the old system, it will lead up to single-payer anyway.
If Obamacare is not fully repealed, we will have single-payer. Obamacare Jr. pushed by Congressional Republicans will be called Trumpcare. The Dems' base will be motivated. Republican voters will be discouraged.
Now is the perfect time to turn over Medicaid, Medicare, and all other federally-funded or regulated health programs to the states completely, then deregulate the entire industry so market forces (competition) can work its magic.
You make many salient points and I agree with most of them.
Perhaps, states can deliver health care more cost effectively. Neither party has come close to addressing the most obvious factor in health care: COST!!!
Tort reform (medical malpractice), drug prices and other key issues are hardly mentioned. However, President Trump has focused on pharmaceutical companies to some degree.
It just seems the electorate will grow impatient and hold the GOP responsible for not at least modifying Obamacare.
Both parties having input in reaching a compromise is regrettably not in the realm of possibility. The divide precludes any cooperation.
Finally, I have maintained that the medicaid expansion has taken root as an entitlement in our society a la Social Security and Medicare. Once citizens have been given another safety net, it is virtual political suicide to wrest it away!!
Why can't the argument be made for turning over Medicaid and Medicare completely over to the states?
Don't accept the premise that Republicans need to "do something" to make Obamacare work. No, we need to have the debate whether or not the federal government should be involved in healthcare.
HAHA!
Nothing good will happen on this,
Turning all health care programs entirely over to the states is doctrinaire conservatism. In most cases, it might be the answer. However, some states are better equipped to tackle this proposition than others. Two notable exceptions which would likely have enormous difficulty doing this are Illinois and California. Illinois is bankrupt and CA is literally a basket case of high taxation, etc.
A “healthy” debate is probably the remedy—but it’s highly doubtful the current political chasm will allow such reasonable action any time in the foreseeable future.
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