Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Although Publicly Enthusiastic About Efforts, Trump Has Little Sway Over Crucial Senators
Politico: Trump Publicly Backs Healthcare Effort, Privately Harbors Doubts
In public, President Donald Trump is all-in on the Senate’s final chance to repeal Obamacare. But privately, there’s ambivalence in the White House about the bill’s contents and its chances of clearing the tightly divided chamber next week. Trump spent time between meetings at the United Nations calling senators and other senior White House officials about the Graham-Cassidy bill, asking for updated vote tallies and how to woo senators for the bill. White House officials have considered tweaking the state funding to win a vote from GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — and others. Trump has also publicly excoriated Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul for voting against the legislation, telling aides he would go after other senators. (Dawsey and Everett, 9/22)
Boston Globe: Trump Takes Softer Approach To Wooing Murkowski’s Health Care Swing Vote
While the senator from Alaska demurred on the president’s lunch invitation (she cited a prior commitment in her home state), her fellow Republicans are clearly taking a new tactic this time, seeking to woo rather than shame her into voting their way. But so far, the senator is keeping her colleagues and constituents guessing. (Jacobs, 9/21)
Meanwhile, will this help Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) bounce back from his terrible summer —
Politico: McConnell Lays It On The Line
He's been battered by President Donald Trump and had his vaunted legislative acumen called into question. Now, Mitch McConnell has a chance to put his cruel summer behind him. Over the next week, the Senate majority leader will try one last time to rescind the Democratic health care law. At the same time, he's put his political reputation on the line in Alabama, where his chosen candidate, incumbent Sen. Luther Strange, faces off against anti-establishment Roy Moore in a special Senate election on Tuesday. (Everett and Bresnahan, 9/21)
