Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Graham, Cassidy Maintain Enthusiasm Over Plan, Vow To Hold Hearings In the Upcoming Months
The Hill: Graham-Cassidy Sponsors Vow To Press On With Health-Care Reform
The main sponsors of the last ObamaCare repeal bill committed on Thursday to hold hearings in the coming months in an effort to eventually pass their legislation. “Over the coming weeks and months, we are committed to holding congressional hearings and working with our [nation's] governors who believe returning power to states is a vast improvement over Obamacare,” Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said in a joint statement. (Weixel, 9/28)
The Hill: ObamaCare Repeal Authors Meet With Trump
The main sponsors of the last ObamaCare repeal bill met Thursday with President Trump to discuss health care, despite the effort appearing dead for the foreseeable future. The bill from Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) had gained momentum last week, but ultimately Republicans decided Tuesday against holding a vote this week after it became clear the legislation wouldn’t pass. (Roubein, 9/28)
The Hill: Trump Repeats Claim That Hospitalized Senator Is Preventing ObamaCare Repeal
President Trump in an interview broadcast early Thursday again maintained that Republicans have enough votes to repeal ObamaCare and repeated his claim that a hospitalized GOP senator is preventing a vote before Friday. ... The lawmaker Trump mentions appears to be Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), who said Wednesday that he is not hospitalized but recovering at home. ... Republican Senate leaders this week chose not to have a vote on the latest ObamaCare repeal bill due to its lack of support among several GOP senators. (Shelbourne, 9/28)
The Hill: White House Seeks To Explain Trump Comments On Senator
President Trump’s top spokeswoman on Thursday sought to explain his false claim that an ObamaCare repeal bill could not pass because a senator was in the hospital. “The point we're making is that we have the votes on the substance, just not necessarily on the process,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. ... Cochran was not a factor in the Senate GOP’s decision to not hold a vote on the ObamaCare measure. (Fabian, 9/28)
