Posted on 09/15/2017 8:36:44 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
On September 13, four Republican senators unveiled a new Obamacare replacement bill that defunds Planned Parenthood, could allow states to opt out of the HHS contraceptive mandate, and stops Obamacare’s funding of abortion.
Senate rules give them just over two weeks to pass it with a simple majority.
The four senators who introduced the bill were Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nevada, and Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin.
Pro-life former Sen. Rick Santorum accompanied the senators as they announced the bill.
In April 2017, Heller told constituents he’d “protect Planned Parenthood” but then backtracked from those comments.
Heller was one of seven Republicans who voted “no” on a straight repeal of Obamacare that would have defunded Planned Parenthood as well.
In the early morning hours of July 28, Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, cast the deciding “no” vote on a “skinny repeal” of Obamacare that also defunded Planned Parenthood, which commits more than 300,000 abortions annually.
McCain’s move, which Democrats celebrated, was surprising especially because the senator, who has cancer, flew back to Washington to cast a “yes” vote to allow debate and voting to proceed on the “skinny repeal” bill.
The new “Cassidy-Graham bill” creates block grants for states to establish their own healthcare systems. “The grant dollars would replace the federal money currently being spent on Medicaid Expansion, Obamacare tax credits, cost-sharing reduction subsidies and the basic health plan dollars,” Cassidy’s website explains. “The proposal gives states the resources and regulatory flexibility to innovate and create healthcare systems that lower premiums and expand coverage.” “Four states get 37 percent of Obamacare dollars,” Cassidy’s FAQ about the bill says. “Support should be equal across the nation.”
The bill ends Obamacare’s individual and employer mandates and medical device tax.
It allows states to obtain waivers of “any provision that requires a health insurance issuer offering a coverage plan in the individual or small group market to ensure that certain benefits are included in such coverage.”
If Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price interprets the Obama administration’s coercive contraceptive mandate as a “benefit mandate,” then it’s possible this bill could allow states to opt out of it.
“I commend Senators Graham and Cassidy on introducing a pro-life bill to replace the disaster that is Obamacare,” said Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America. “This bill does the right thing by defunding Planned Parenthood and directing funding towards Federally Qualified Health Centers.” “Planned Parenthood has lied to the American public, committed fraud with taxpayer dollars, and has been proven to sell the body parts of babies they abort for profit,” Hawkins continued. “Yet Congress has continually failed to defund Planned Parenthood, despite having a pro-life Congress and President.”
Because of existing pro-life law, the state grants wouldn’t allow funding for abortions except in case of rape, incest, and threats to the life of the mother. The bill also doesn’t fund health insurance plans that cover abortions.
The pro-life Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) praised Graham and Cassidy for introducing the bill and said they’re closely examining its pro-life language.
“It is extremely encouraging to see pro-life senators led by Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy offering new ideas and solutions to enact a healthcare reform reconciliation bill for FY17,” said SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. “SBA List will need time to review the language carefully to ensure that it will roll back taxpayer funding of abortion under Obamacare and redirect abortion giant Planned Parenthood’s tax funding to community health centers.”
The same day Cassidy and Graham introduced their bill, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, introduced a single-payer healthcare bill. At least five Democrats are co-sponsoring it with him.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nevada, and Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin
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Cheap Labor Express stooges.
Heller is in deep trouble because of his vote for Rubio’s amnesty and not repealing Obamacare.
Well we know the Alaska and Maine senators are against this, so it’s up to McCain to make this happen - again ... (not holding my breathe)
This is a Trojan Horse. It gets states addicted to more federal dollars with strings attached while allowing them to beat their chests and brag about how they are able to "cover" their uninsured and balance their state budgets (I'm looking at you, Kasich).
Also, Congress has the power to regulate interstate commerce. Let health insurers sell across state lines would resolve the problem a lot. If cute Gekkos, Chris Paul, and the powerful voice of actor Dennis Haysbert can sell auto insurance, then they can do the same with health insurance.
These people get their name on a bill to show the folks back home how tough they are.
They know there is no way for the bill to pass. It’s a sport with them. Take turns feinting conservatism for constituent’s consumption.
If Miss Linda is involved, it can’t be good.
Bingo—and no matter what his favorite disc jockey—Hugh Hewitt—says!!!
This is beltway theater. Bill has no chance of passing. Heller is up for election so he gloms on to it. Flake & McNasty had a go nowhere border bill last year too.
So says the parliamentarian, a Democrat. VP Pence, as President of the Senate, can overrule the parliamentarian.
My immediate, cynical reaction is that they’re only doing this because they know it won’t go anywhere...just like the bills to repeal Obamacare.
I tried finding Senate bill number so that I could find its chance of passing in govtrack.us. But I couldn’t find the number. Would somebody please point my conehead in the right direction?
As a side note to the federal legislative bill-making process, the states need to amend the Constitution to not only require lawmakers to reference constitutional clauses which justify the bill on top of page 1 of bill, but all clause references need to appear before bill can be voted on.
Enumerated Powers Act https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enumerated_powers#Enumerated_Powers_Act
"Also, Congress has the power to regulate interstate commerce. Let health insurers sell across state lines would resolve the problem a lot."
The McCarran–Ferguson Act, (15 U.S.C. §§ 1011-1015) would have to be amended to allow the sale of insurance across State lines. I wonder if insurance companies would welcome out of State competition?
dvwjr
4-96.
Dean Heller is a FRAUD!!
is this correct? :
The role of the parliamentary staff is advisory, and the Presiding Officer may overrule the advice of the parliamentarian. In practice this is rare, and the most recent example of a Vice President (as President of the Senate) overruling the parliamentarian was Nelson Rockefeller in 1975.[1]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliamentarian_of_the_United_States_Senate
They know that this bill will never pass in the House. It’s all a ruse to make it look like they are working to get something done and throw the blame on Trump.
Graham show off the new black dress he bought for McCain’s upcoming funeral?
Its too bad, the Boston Massachusetts democrats stole New Hampshire’s senate seat in 2016. We wouldn’t need backstabbers like John McCain.
It doesn’t matter if its imperfect it can’t be worse than Obamacare. Let the states have the freedom to restore the private market and spend the money on other thing, like reducing taxes so that the people can control their own healthcare dollars.
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