Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Night Of The Living Dead: Senators Work To Revive Zombie Trumpcare Bill Late Into Evening
The New York Times: Republicans’ Push To Overturn Health Law Is Back From The Dead
The Republican health care push was declared dead Wednesday morning. By afternoon it had a breath of life. Legislation in Washington can assume Frankenstein-like qualities. On the cusp of a humiliating and politically disastrous defeat, President Trump and the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, took extraordinary resuscitative measures on Wednesday to pump oxygen back into their badly fading effort to overturn the Affordable Care Act. They somehow managed to stave off its imminent demise. (Hulse, 7/19)
Reuters: Republicans Meet Late Into Night As Trump Demands New Healthcare Plan
Republicans struggling to agree on healthcare legislation to overhaul Obamacare obeyed U.S. President Donald Trump's orders to try to swiftly reach a deal but were unable to resolve their differences in a long, late-night meeting. (Abutaleb and Cowan, 7/20)
Politico: Senate Republicans Still At Impasse After Late-Night Health Care Meeting
The Republicans initially planned to bring in chiefs of staff and health care wonks to advance the negotiations. White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus was expected to join and help push the disagreeing GOP senators to yes. But as the senators kept talking, they reevaluated their plan and decided not to allow staff in and keep the room to members only. Priebus strolled out of Sen. John Barrasso’s office, as did White House legislative director Marc Short. The senators would keep talking amongst themselves. Talks “narrowed down to try to figure out what is causing members not to be able to vote in favor or problems they have with the bill,” said Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), who opposes the GOP’s latest repeal and replace draft. “It had merit and it’s something that should have been taking place.” (Everett, Kim and Haberkorn, 7/19)
The Hill: Senate GOP Revives Negotiation Over ObamaCare Repeal And Replace
Thune and Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), both members of Senate leadership, expressed optimism about injecting new life into the process following a closed-door lunch with President Trump earlier in the day. It is not clear what approach Senate Republicans will take in the negotiation. (Carney, 7/19)
The Hill: GOP Reverses Course On Healthcare
McConnell appears to believe that if he can get the Senate to agree to open debate on an ObamaCare measure, he’ll have an opportunity to clear legislation by grinding away at his members. As the pressure intensifies, he clearly hopes that opposition will fall away. But he first must get past the motion to proceed. (Roubein, 7/20)
