The pseudonym "Philo Vaihinger" has been abandoned. All posts have been and are written by me, Joseph Auclair.

Saturday, September 16, 2017

While the Bernie left gets high on Medicare for all

Senate Republicans throw another health care Hail Mary

Republicans have been searching for eight months now to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. That effort effectively died on the floor of the Senate in July when the party couldn't get 51 votes do little more than punt the serious health care policy questions to a conference committee.

Still, a small group of Republicans led by Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana are trying to bring the effort back before it's too late.

The Senate's parliamentarian has suggested that the GOP only has until the end of September before their reconciliation vehicle -- the budget bill that allows them to pass health care with a simple majority -- expires.

Graham and Cassidy are expected to unveil Wednesday their latest proposal to overhaul health care, but rank-and-file members aren't sounding too optimistic. 

Timing is a big reason.

"We are in the fourth quarter with about 30 seconds left," said Sen. Tim Scott, a Republican from South Carolina who added that the bill was the last "bullet left in the chamber."

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