GOP/HEALTHCARE/OBAMACARE(ACA): “A last-chance push by Republicans to scrap the Affordable Care Act gained momentum but still faced formidable odds Tuesday [9-19-17], with some key Republican senators wavering in their support days before a possible vote.
The latest drive to repeal most of the ACA has the backing of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.), who said Tuesday that Republicans ‘are in the process of discussing’ whether to hold a vote on the legislation from GOP Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. Republican leaders, anxious to avoid the risk of a second high-profile loss on an ACA repeal, are reluctant to bring the bill to a vote unless they are assured of passage.
The White House also threw its muscle behind the legislation. Vice President Mike Pence flew back Tuesday to Washington from United Nations meetings in New York to publicly cheer on Republican senators, saying President Donald Trump and the administration are strongly behind the effort.
The health-care push comes at a difficult time for GOP leaders, who have been sidelined this month as Mr. Trump cut deals with Democrats. Another high-profile failed vote would highlight Republicans’ difficulties in unifying around their legislative agenda, while a success would give them a chance to follow through on their yearslong promise to repeal the law often called Obamacare.
Senate Republicans said Tuesday they hadn’t yet pinned down the 50 votes the legislation would need to pass, but were hopeful that a late push from the White House would boost support.”
-Stephanie Armour, Kristina Peterson, and Louise Radnofsky, “Latest Push for a Health-Law Repeal Picks Up Speed in the Senate,” The Wall Street Journal online, Sept. 19, 2017 07:24pm