A conservative bloc of Senators is taking a stand to save the Republican health care legislation from becoming another big government boondoggle. While President Trump and Senate GOP leaders debate about how many mandates and giveaways they will put in the new legislation, Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ron Johnson (R-WI), and Mike Lee (R-UT) have other plans.
The four men released a joint statement on Thursday saying, “Currently, for a variety of reasons, we are not ready to vote for this bill, but we are open to negotiation and obtaining more information before it is brought to the floor. There are provisions in this draft that represent an improvement to our current health care system, but it does not appear this draft as written will accomplish the most important promise that we made to Americans: to repeal Obamacare and lower their health care costs.”
The conservative lawmakers are attempting to stop the leftward drift that is currently taking place in health care negotiations. President Trump told Senate Republicans that lawmakers should draft a bill that was “generous, kind, [and] with heart.” He denigrated the American Health Care Act (AHCA) passed by the House as too “mean.” Elaborating on what his words meant, Trump claimed that “adding additional money” was one way to improve the legislation.
“Obamacare is dead and we’re putting a plan out today that is going to be negotiated,” Trump said. “We’d love to have some Democrats’ support but they’re obstructionists.”
However, it is not just Democrats who are opposing Trump’s big government health care push. These four intrepid conservative Senators will stand in opposition as well unless serious changes are made to the bill.
“What I’m telling [fellow Senators] is if they get to an impasse, come talk to me, because I’m more than willing to vote for a partial repeal if I can’t get complete repeal, but I’m not willing to vote for new Republican entitlement programs,” Paul said.
As usual, Trump is positioning himself in the middle of the fray. He claimed that the health care bill needed “a little negotiation, but it’s going to be very good.” Only time will tell if Trump will ultimately help the principled conservatives during negotiations, or side yet again with the entrenched Washington D.C. leadership that wants to keep the status quo intact.
those forced to continue with the obama mandate or get fined will remember these shcmucks when they are up for re-election.
These are some of the most popular senators out there. They just did the American people a favor.
Leisha Spier Robbins that said by someone who can afford health insurance and avoid the fines.
It was much more affordable before the ACA. Healthcare is not a right. It is privledge. People are not entitled to the hard work of others.
Leisha Spier Robbins yes it was. but anyone who claims to be conservative and votes against a bill that would end the fine can’t be considered even remotely conservative. Just stupid.
Leisha Spier Robbins …and I suppose you feel the fine is a privilege too?
It’s a shit bill. They can do better. It’s not what they ran on! They ran on repealing Obamacare…not expanding it and making it worse!
yes, they can and SHOULD do better. But it isn’t going to happen. Too many liberal republicans.
I don’t agree with the fine. I don’t want the ACA to stay either…but I also don’t want it replaced with something worse. If the republicans get this wrong…they will be blamed forever. If they let it stay…it’s the dems shit to eat.
they are going to be blamed forever and they are just stupid and wishy-washy. 2018 will find dems in control of congress.
Maybe but I doubt it. America is waking up. I bet we see a lot more third party votes in the future!
The Republican bill is far far worse for every single one of us.
Joseph Murphy not true. It’s better for those who can’t afford insurance as they wouldn’t be paying the fine any longer. (I have family who doesn’t have insurance but the fine was very stiff last year).
(by the way…. the person that enabled the fine to exist in obamacare was the George Bush pick for the Chief of the Supreme Court: John Roberts! Your Champion Republican)
Just put a damned “D” after their name and lets vote in actual Republicans.
You have it backwards.
They oppose the reform because it’s not conservative enough.
You’re an idiot, educate yourself moron.
The Republican bill is far far worse for every single one of us, these guys are the ones actually doing the right thing and not selling us out.
Come like our page!
Single-payer Medicare-for-All is a non-negotiable demand! Healthcare is a human right, and corporate capitalism is literally killing us.
I love you guys…but come on seriously…you are killing the party with you opposition. We have to pass something.
Dont get excited they are playing lets make a deal. They want it to be tweeked before they will vote for it.