Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Lawmaker Would Settle Health Debate With 'Aaron Burr-Style' Duel If Senators Blocking Bill Were Men
The Associated Press: Burr-Hamilton? Angry Lawmaker Singles Out 'Female Senators'
Passions are running high on Capitol Hill — but pistols at 10 paces over health care? GOP Rep. Blake Farenthold of Texas is angry with some fellow Republicans in the Senate who are balking at parts of legislation to overturn "Obamacare." After GOP promises to repeal the law, that "is just repugnant to me," he says. Who's to blame? (7/24)
Politico: Farenthold Blames 'Some Female Senators' For Obamacare Repeal Failure
Rep. Blake Farenthold on Monday blamed “some female senators from the Northeast” for hampering Republican efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare, telling a local radio station that he might challenge them to a duel if the allegedly obstructive lawmakers were men. The Texas Republican’s remark appeared to be a reference to Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), both of whom have expressed some degree of hesitancy toward Senate Republicans’ specific plans to repeal and replace former President Barack Obama’s signature health care legislation. (Nelson, 7/24)
Texas Tribune: Congressman: If Female GOP Senators Were South Texas Men, I'd Challenge Them To A Duel
A Texas GOP congressman says if the three female Republican senators who oppose a bill repealing Obamacare were men from South Texas, he might challenge them to a duel. ... The comments set off a social media firestorm over the course of the day - to the point that his twitter handle was trending in Washington, D.C. (Livingston, 7/24)
Reuters: Senate Healthcare Holdout Collins Never Got Call From Trump
President Donald Trump exhorted every Republican to vote yes on a healthcare overhaul when it comes before the Senate this week, but one of his party's most vocal opponents of the bill, Senator Susan Collins, said he had made no effort to reach her. (Cornwell, 7/24)
A look at where other politicians stand —
New Hampshire Public Radio: Hassan Criticizes GOP Health Bill, And Trump Administration's 'Sabotage' Of Obamacare
Senator Maggie Hassan met with health care leaders in Exeter Monday to talk about the need for a bipartisan plan forward in Washington--and to criticize President Trump for his handling of the health care issue. Standing in the glass atrium of Exeter Hospital, the first-term Democrat did not mince words about what she sees as the flaws in the Republican approach to health policy. (Bookman, 7/24)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Pressure Mounts On Perdue, Isakson Ahead Of Health Care Vote
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has yet to disclose whether he plans to immediately push a replacement for the 2010 health care law or simply a repeal-only plan, much like what the Senate voted on two years ago. ... But with the GOP in control of the White House and both chambers of Congress for the first time in a decade, the pressure is suddenly immense. (Hallerman, 7/25)
The Philadelphia Inquirer/Philly.com: Uncertainty Looms For Pat Toomey, GOP Ahead Of Key Health Care Vote
The Senate is planning a critical vote Tuesday on Republicans’ long-promised health-care overhaul, but on the eve of that decision, Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.) was still unsure what exactly he would be voting on or whether the measure could pass. The cloud of uncertainty hovered even as Toomey spoke to business owners and executives at a suburban office park in West Chester. And with the potential for failure looming, the senator, who helped write the Republican health plan, already had one eye on another key GOP priority, tax reform. (Brennan and Tamari, 7/24)
