Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Backlash Toward Female Senators Blocking Bills Turns Heated
The Washington Post: Female Senators Are Increasingly On Receiving End Of Insults From Male Officials
Republican female senators whose disapproval of the GOP health-care effort has at times endangered its progress are facing an increasingly pointed backlash from men in their party, including a handful of comments that invoked physical retaliation. In the past week, Sen. Susan Collins (Maine) has been challenged by a male lawmaker to a duel. She and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) were told that they and others deserve a physical reprimand for their decisions not to support Republican health-care proposals. Murkowski, who voted with Collins against starting the health-care debate this week, was specifically called out by President Trump on Twitter and told by a Cabinet official that Alaska could suffer for her choice, according to a colleague. (Viebeck, 7/27)
The Hill: Trump Feud With Alaska Senator Intensifies
The White House is escalating its public feud with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), a key swing vote who helped defeat the "skinny" ObamaCare repeal plan early Friday morning. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke called Murkowski and Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) on Wednesday and threatened to withhold federal support for key economic development projects in the state if Murkowski didn’t line up to support the GOP’s healthcare plans. (Henry and Cama, 7/28)
NPR: After Trump Targets Murkowski, Interior Secretary Reportedly Warns Alaska's Senators
Hours after President Trump criticized Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski's vote on debating health care legislation, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke reportedly called Murkowski and fellow Alaskan Sen. Dan Sullivan to say their state could run into trouble with the Trump administration. (Chappell, 7/27)
The Atlantic: The Limits Of Bullying
While it might have been a long shot given her earlier votes, Republicans might have still salvaged Murkowski's support. But that chance was probably lost when the Trump administration threatened the entire state of Alaska to try to coerce her into backing repeal. Collins seemed opposed to full repeal from the beginning of this process. But if anything, Texas Republican Blake Farenthold's threat to duel her solidified her position rather than weakening it. By the wee hours of Friday morning, as Republican senators huddled around her trying to win their votes, it was too late. (Serwer, 7/28)
