Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Sanders Continues To Beat Single-Payer Drum As Congress' Attention Shifts Toward Tax Reform
The Washington Post: In Trump States, Sanders Tries To Push Democrats To The Left On Health Care
It looked just like a campaign launch, from the line winding around the Fellowship Chapel Church, to the tailgaters giving away hot dogs, to the 2,000 voters who eventually packed inside. But when Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) and Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) arrived, there were no waving signs. They were there to kick off the push for universal health care, with legislation queued up for September, and no expectation that the Republican-controlled Congress would pass it. “Every major country in the world, they’ve already got it,” said Conyers. (Weigel, 8/26)
The Hill: Heller Walks Tightrope On Obamacare Repeal
Sen. Dean Heller is trying to walk a fine line on ObamaCare ahead of his tough reelection race next year. (Sullivan, 8/27)
And Republicans in Congress are feeling the heat about getting things done after their failure to pass repeal-and-replace —
The Wall Street Journal: Pressure Mounts On Senate Republicans As Trump Rachets Up Criticism
Tensions between President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans are rising, as lawmakers are being blamed by the president, House colleagues and many voters for the party’s failure to pass a major legislative initiative. “I’m sick of them,” said Matthew Walters, a 58-year-old construction worker who lives in Shelbyville, Ky., and has been eager for the GOP to repeal the Affordable Care Act as his wife’s insurance premiums jump. “They’ve said for six years if we get a Republican in the White House we’re going to get this repealed. What is the problem? What are the excuses? I’m sick of it. We elected Donald Trump for change.” (Hughes and Peterson, 8/27)
