Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
The Two Senators Willing To Be Labeled 'Bill Killers'
The Associated Press: In Trump Style, Senators' Tweet Dashed GOP Health Care Hopes
When Sens. Mike Lee and Jerry Moran decided they were in ready to disrupt the GOP rewrite of the health care law, they chose President Donald Trump's favorite medium. They could not support Senate Republicans' plan, the somewhat unlikely pair of conservatives tweeted at 8:30 p.m. Monday night, giving no heads up to the White House or Senate leaders before pressing send. The story behind the statement reveals two senators willing to be branded as bill killers and seemingly unconcerned with trying to soften the blow with party leaders. (Daly, 7/19)
The Associated Press: Cautious Kansas Sen. Moran Steps Into Health Law Spotlight
Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran is nobody's idea of a rabble-rouser. A Republican stalwart with a low-key style and reputation for caution, his decision to publicly torpedo the latest Senate GOP plan to overhaul health care raised eyebrows. The contrast is sharp between Moran and Utah's Sen. Mike Lee, the other senator who scuttled the Republican plan Monday night. Lee is a tea party favorite once willing to shut down the federal government to stymie former President Barack Obama's health care policies. (Hanna, 7/18)
KCUR: Senator Moran Cheered And Jeered In Kansas For Evolving Positions On Obamacare Repeal
For a public official unaccustomed to the limelight, U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran can’t seem to avoid it when it comes to the national healthcare debate. Moran’s Monday night tweet announcing his opposition to the latest Republican health bill triggered “breaking news” alerts on cable news channels. And it briefly won him praise from the demonstrators who stage weekly protests outside his Olathe office. They cheered when Leslie Mark, an organizer for Indivisible KC, picked up a bullhorn and shouted “Thank you Senator Jerry Moran,” to kick off Tuesday’s event. (McLean, 7/18)
