Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
New Divisions Among Republicans Emerge As Leadership Tries To Please Everyone Just Enough
The Wall Street Journal: Republicans Clash Again Over Senate Health-Care Bill
New divisions opened among Senate Republicans on Thursday over their proposed health-care legislation even as they edged closer to hammering out some agreements to shore up support for the bill. The bill’s status appeared shaky as lawmakers left Washington for a week-long break, its fate likely vulnerable to home-state pressures they may face and any deals they can make over the vacation. (Peterson, Rubin and Hughes, 6/29)
The Washington Post: If These Two Republicans Can’t Agree, The Senate Can’t Pass Its Health-Care Bill
They came to the Senate together amid less fanfare than some of their 2010 classmates, with lower profiles that didn’t lead to presidential bids. But Sens. Rob Portman (Ohio) and Patrick J. Toomey (Pa.) were intellectual forces inside the Republican caucus from the moment they took the oath in January 2011. (Kane, 6/29)
Los Angeles Times: Healthcare Issue Delivers Nothing But Pain For Nevada's Embattled Sen. Dean Heller
Dean Heller is Stephanie Diaz-Gonzalez’s problem now. She’s never met Nevada’s Republican senator and hadn’t had much time to familiarize herself. How could she? The 25-year-old is holding down a full-time job and raising a 7-year-old son, who keeps her busy with soccer games, math homework and those too-often terrifying moments when he can’t breathe. (Montero and Barabak, 6/30)
Los Angeles Times: Hopes Fade For Friday Revise Of Senate Republican Health Bill With No Quick Fix In Sight
Senate Republicans appeared unlikely to hit a self-imposed Friday deadline for revising their healthcare bill, as negotiators considered scaling back promised tax cuts for the wealthy in order to provide more insurance assistance to the poor. Vice President Mike Pence led a White House push by meeting Thursday with divided Republican senators, but conservatives and centrists have been unable to resolve their differences. “We’re working,” Pence said as he dashed through the halls, followed by reporters shouting questions. (Mascaro, 6/29)
Politico: Dazed GOP Bolts Washington In Health Care Disarray
Senate Republicans skipped town on Thursday afternoon facing stiff internal opposition to their health care proposal and a Fourth of July recess in which critics will pummel their effort to repeal Obamacare. Though the Senate whirred to life with deal-making between Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his members, senators were dazed by the up-and-down week and nowhere near a plan that could get 50 votes. The GOP is planning to write new language to be analyzed by Friday, but were far from reaching a broad agreement as senators had hoped. (Everett, Kim and Karlin-Smith, 6/29)
