Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
McConnell Open To Vote On Health Plan, But Says 'We Need A Bill The President Will Actually Sign'
The New York Times: McConnell Signals Willingness To Hold Vote On Health Deal If Trump Approves
Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, said on Sunday that he would be willing to bring a bipartisan proposal to stabilize health insurance markets up for debate if President Trump signaled his support. “If there’s a need for some kind of interim step here to stabilize the market, we need a bill the president will actually sign,” Mr. McConnell said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “And I’m not certain yet what the president is looking for here, but I’ll be happy to bring a bill to the floor if I know President Trump would sign it.” (Fandos, 10/22)
The Hill: McConnell: I'd Be Happy To Bring A Health-Care Bill To The Floor If I Know Trump Will Sign It
"What I'm waiting for is to hear from President Trump what kind of health-care bill he might sign. If there's a need for some kind of interim step here to stabilize the market, we need a bill the president will actually sign," he continued. (Manchester, 10/22)
Politico Pro: Trump Stokes Hopes Of Obamacare Repeal — Setting Up Senate For Another Failure
Repeatedly claiming that Republicans have the votes to repeal major parts of Obamacare early next year, Trump is stoking expectations that the GOP can fulfill its seven-year pledge before the 2018 midterm elections — a promise that Republicans once again might not be able to keep. The Senate, Trump says, will have the 50 votes needed to enact the bill known as Graham-Cassidy, the last of a series of repeal bids that went down in flames this summer and fall. (Haberkorn, 10/20)
The Hill: Schumer Calls On McConnell To Send Bipartisan Health Care Bill To Floor This Week
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Sunday to bring a bipartisan short-term ObamaCare stabilization deal to the Senate floor this week, despite uncertain support from President Trump. "This is a good compromise. It took months to work out. It has a majority. It has 60 senators supporting it, we have all 48 Democrats, 12 Republicans. I would urge Senator McConnell to put it on the floor immediately, this week," Schumer told NBC's Chuck Todd on "Meet the Press" on Sunday. (Manchester, 10/22)
Politico: Schumer: Bipartisan Health Care Bill 'Has A Majority'
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Sunday that the Alexander-Murray bipartisan health care bill has support from a majority of senators, and he urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring it to the floor "immediately." “This is a good compromise. It took months to work out. It has a majority. It has 60 senators supporting it. We have all 48 Democrats, 12 Republicans," Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on "Meet the Press" on NBC. "I would urge Senator McConnell to put it on the floor immediately, this week. It will pass and it will pass by a large number of votes.” (Morin, 10/22)
The Associated Press: Top Dems Nix White House Demands To Alter Health Care Deal
Top Senate Democrats rejected White House demands Friday to add provisions weakening the Obama health care law to a bipartisan deal on steadying unsettled insurance markets. The compromise already faced an uphill path and this was the latest blow. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the Trump administration was involved in the negotiations that produced the accord and "should support it instead of floating other ideas that would further the sabotage both parties are trying to reverse." (Fram, 10/20)
The Hill: Mulvaney: 'Good Chance' To Get ObamaCare Deal
White House budget chief Mick Mulvaney said Sunday there is a "good chance" to get a deal on ObamaCare insurer payments. During an interview on CBS's "Face The Nation," Mulvaney was asked about President Trump's position on the bipartisan health-care deal. (Savransky, 10/22)
