I saw this article earlier on the state of efforts to draft a Trumpcare bill in the Senate this morning, which offered something of an update on what is happening in the Senate right now when there aren’t hearings on Trump’s scandal-plagued tenure.
More below the fold:
The bottom line is that the Senate appears to be attempting to fast-track a Trumpcare bill so that it can pass via reconciliation. As the article notes, a consensus among so-called “moderates” has emerged regarding when to end Medicaid Expansion. Remember that presumably “moderates” were uncomfortable with ending Medicaid Expansion, especially those who hold seats in states that have benefited from that feature of the ACA. Apparently they have grown comfy with the idea of ending Medicaid Expansion, at least at a more gradual pace than the House Trumpcare bill. There are apparently still quite a few sticking points left before the votes are there to pass this monstrosity, but it would be wise for us to prepare for the worst. Our household is certainly calling our Senators on a regular basis, simply to make the point crystal clear that Trumpcare is not acceptable. Bear in mind as well that the GOP is truly going this alone: no committee mark-ups, no deliberations with their Democratic colleagues, just back-room dealing and secrecy. I have friends who are still sanguine about the prospects of this bill passing (i.e., don’t worry – they’ll never get the 50 votes), but I am not convinced that complacency is in order. It is best to assume that McConnell has good reason to believe he has the votes, even assuming the CBO score looks every bit as godawful as the bill that passed through the House. Be vigilant.
