Sen. Rand Paul told CNN’s ‘Newsroom’ Monday that while he is currently negotiating with President Donald Trump on the Affordable Health Care Act (AHCA), which aims to repeal and replace Obamacare, the Senate leadership is refusing to negotiate.
Sen. Paul stated that he had talked on the phone with the President about the bill over the weekend.
“We had an extensive discussion about all of the ramifications, which way the leadership’s taking it, which way the conservatives want to take it, which way the moderates want to take it, and what I told him that would get me on board, and I think we had a very frank discussion about this. I told him if we narrow the focus – let’s just say we aren’t going to fix everything. In fact, I don’t think everything is fixable in the health care bill. Let’s say we’re going to repeal as much as we can of Obamacare, and then we’re going to work with the Democrats over the next six months to try to fix any remaining problems. I think once it’s no longer a debate about repeal, once it’s a debate later on about how we fix health care, then maybe there could be some bi-partisan coming together, but Obamacare is in such terrible strait that we should try to repeal as much as we can now – the taxes, the regulations and see if we can do something to patch up Medicaid, until we can get to a position where we can fix it.”
“So, far the Senate leadership is not negotiating with our office,” Sen. Paul went on to say. “I’m trying to negotiate with the President, but really the President is going to have to tell leadership it’s going to have to negotiate with some of us who don’t see this bill as being good for the country.”
Paul opposes many of Obamacare’s regulations and subsidies that are not repealed in the AHCA, as well as a new subsidy which the bill introduces called the Patient and State Stability Fund. The legislation is said to be up for a Senate vote later this week.
The lack of engagement by Senate leadership is somewhat surprising, given Sen. Paul is from the same state as the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and the two Senators have previously enjoyed a cordial relationship.
In the aftermath of the release of a CBO report alleging that premiums would rise substantially under the new legislation, Sen. Paul told reporters that he “won’t vote to proceed [AHCA] unless the bill changes.”
Confirming what we all know about the dysfunctional Republican Senate.
It is Rand Paul that says he will not vote for Trumps healthcare bill. Senate works fine.
Ray, it’s the same garbage of Obamacare plus. That’s why he’s not voting for it.
Rand Paul is voting with the Democrats. Traidor.
Senator Rand Paul is voting against a crappy bill that is not in the best interests of Americans. And he is neither a “traidor” nor a Traitor. He’s a patriot.
Rand Paul is voting for Obamacare in fact.
Typo dirt bag fool.
Ray Pellerin may be a progressive.
Ray Pellerin You apparently don’t know much about Senator Rand Paul. Or you just repeat the DNC propaganda…
Rand Paul will not vote for a slightly different version of ObamaCare. Both he and the President ran on repealing Obamacare and will not vote for much less. It seems Rand is the only one not beholden to special interests to insist on a full repeal. He is beholden to those who voted for him, he needs to deliver the goods, unlike other members of Congress.
I supported Rand Paul before he said he wants to keep Obamacare in place. Are you all Obama supporters in here?
Ray, Rand hasn’t voted for or against anything yet. He’s trying to negotiate to make this bill better, to make this bill more conservative.
Please watch and understand that Rand is voting no because of the ghastly Obamacare regulations this current bill is keeping in place under the guise of “lowering cost”. He wants to negotiate more regulatory cuts so it’s actually a repeal instead of Obamacare under a different name…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w43KMJG-Bjw&t=3s
It is already more Conservative than Obamacare. A step in the right direction is far better than doing nothing. Just the fact this bill ends the mandate is reason to support it. We can go back and change more in time.
Rand is voting with the Democrats. His spin is worthless to any real Republican.
Ray Pellerin Do you have the same criticism for Ted Cruz, Mike Lee and Ron Johnson? They all oppose the bill as written because it doesn’t lower premiums, entrenches Obamacare subsidies, and continues to bail out insurers.
Yes I do. Cruz is wrong. Sad you RINOs support Obamacare. You need to change the group name to “Obama ass lickers”.
It’s a shame that you can’t grasp the constitutional reason why Rand won’t support this bill. You are essentially an enemy of our constitution
I know why he wont support it he wants all or nothing. I want him to support doing something not stand in the way of repeal.
Ray Pellerin I don’t see where anyone here supports Obamacare. Senator Paul doesn’t, regardless of what you imagine.
Ray Pellerin
Paul refuses to fight. Lost a lot of respect for him. Ryan has done far more than Paul has to repeal Obamacare.
Eduardo I cant read that on my phone.
The assholes must start by employing the key ingredient in representative govt. Compromise! My Dad taught that in 8th grade amer.History and civics.
Then vote no and send them to hell.
This is a warning to the ignorant RINOS you better get rid of Cultist care or the next election you won’t be in that race. You will be home watching it on TV.
If 90% of your party falls into what you call the RINOs, doesn’t that mean your definition of Republican is wrong ?
NO KEN.
Rand Paul ; The voice of reason … but the other folks won’t heed …
There are but a few in Congress that honor their duties to We, The People. The rest are selfish and self-serving.
That entire senate has to go!
RINOs will be sent home in 2018… Full Repeal!!! NOT Obamacare lite!!!
Rand Paul wants a full repeal .. for those who forgot to -read the article shut the hell up ..
(repeal now and then) ..”I think once it’s no longer a debate about repeal, once it’s a debate later on about how we fix health care, then maybe there could be some bi-partisan coming together, but Obamacare is in such terrible strait that we should try to repeal as much as we can now – the taxes, the regulations and see if we can do something to patch up Medicaid, until we can get to a position where we can fix it.” .. ~Rand Paul is on top of the curve
The best concept I’ve read about is a repeal set at some time in the future. Could Rand and other Republicans pass such a bill I simply don’t know.