Bipartisan Whispers Start Behind The Scenes As Republicans Publicly Push For A Vote
Discussions about what to do if the GOP's proposed legislation fails are under way, prompting senators to quietly reach across the aisle.
USA Today:
Senate Health Care Troubles Spawn Bipartisan Talks
Senate Republican leaders are plowing ahead with their goal to pass a GOP-only bill to repeal and replace Obamacare next week, but behind the scenes a bipartisan group of senators is discussing how to move forward if the bill fails. “We’ve had great conversations — a lot of Democrats and Republicans,” Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., told reporters Wednesday. Carper said he's been talking specifically with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and they have agreed on the need to draft a bill in public with opportunities for amendments and a full debate. (Collins and Greene, 7/12)
The Wall Street Journal:
Senators Consider Compromise As Health Bill’s Fate Remains Unclear
More than half a dozen Republican and Democratic senators are looking at ways to stabilize the Affordable Care Act’s embattled marketplaces, for example. But any bipartisan push faces stiff challenges, notably from some Republicans who view any tweaking of the ACA has an abdication of the party’s seven-year pledge to uproot it. (Hackman, 7/12)
Politico:
Bipartisan Fixes Won't Come Easily If GOP's Repeal Effort Collapses
[M]any in the GOP privately say they might need a break between seven years of repeal attempts and a sudden repair effort. And some Democrats are already calling for single-payer health care — an automatic non-starter for Republicans. The sharp political divide underscores just how hard it would be for the parties to come together amid the ashes of a failed repeal. (Haberkorn and Cancryn, 7/12)
Meanwhile, these House Democrats have a proposal to stabilize the marketplace —
The Hill:
Ten House Democrats Propose Plan To Fix ObamaCare
Ten House Democrats are proposing a plan to stabilize the ObamaCare markets and reduce premiums. The plan, released Wednesday by the New Democrat Coalition's Affordable and Accessible Health Care Task Force, comes as Republicans pressure Democrats to come up with their own plan to "fix" the Affordable Care Act. (Hellmann, 7/12)
CQ Roll Call:
House Democrats Push For Health Exchange Stabilization Plan
The five-part plan by the coalition, led by Democratic Reps. Kurt Schrader, Ore.; Ami Bera, Calif.; and Ann McLane Kuster, N.H., is designed to stabilize the individual marketplace, control costs, promote enrollment and increase options for consumers. During a news conference announcing the plan, Schrader emphasized there is room for bipartisan discussions to improve the marketplace. “I’ve had conversations with Republican and Democratic senators and there’s a group of folks willing and wanting to work, and I hope our leadership will give us that opportunity,” Schrader said. “Hopefully moderate Republican senators will be looking at this" and conclude that, "well, geez, there are Democrats that are willing to step up, maybe buck our leadership a little bit and work across the aisle and solve the problems in the individual marketplace.” (Raman, 7/12)
