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Health bill stalls as more GOP senators announce opposition

Republican Senators Mike Lee, of Utah, and Jerry Moran, of Kansas, announced late Monday they would not support the GOP's most recent verison of the Senate health care bill, effectively stalling the legislation.

In a statement released Monday night, Sen. Lee said he will vote no on the Better Care Reconciliation Act.

“After conferring with trusted experts regarding the latest version of the Consumer Freedom Amendment, I have decided I cannot support the current version of the Better Care Reconciliation Act,” Sen. Lee said. “In addition to not repealing all of the Obamacare taxes, it doesn’t go far enough in lowering premiums for middle class families; nor does it create enough free space from the most costly Obamacare regulations.”
Sen. Moran tweeted his official statement in which he voiced his opposition to the Senate's latest bill, stating, "We should not put our stamp of approval on bad policy."
The two senators join Senators Rand Paul, of Kentucky, and Susan Collins, of Maine, who both made clear last week they would not support the bill.
With a 52-48 majority, the two senators' opposition to the bill means it is effectively dead in the Senate.
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the Senate's second failure at attempting to repeal and replace ObamaCare is "proof" that the bill is "unworkable."
The legislation, which was strongly backed by President Donald Trump, is the second failure in the Senate for Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who had to cancel voting on an earlier version of the bill last month when it became clear it wouldn't pass. McConnell had planned to "move to proceed" on the health care bill this week.
The Senate bill eliminated mandates and taxes under ObamaCare, and unraveled a Medicaid expansion. But for conservatives like Lee and Paul it didn't go far enough in delivering on Republican Party promises to undo Obama's law, while moderates like Collins viewed the bill as too extreme in yanking insurance coverage from millions.

Trump to Republicans: Let's repeal ObamaCare

When all else fails, kill it.

President Trump tweeted late Monday that Republicans should “just REPEAL” ObamaCare after two key Republican Senators announced they would not support the bill, ending any chance the bill had of passing the Senate.

Republican Senators Mike Lee, of Utah and Jerry Moran, of Kansas joined Senators Rand Paul, of Kentucky and Susan Collins of Maine. Republicans hold onto a 52-48 majority and the two senators’ opposition means the bill is effectively dead.
“Republicans should just REPEAL failing ObamaCare now & work on a new Healthcare Plan that will start from a clean slate. Dems will join in!” Trump tweeted.
Trump appears confident that a straight repeal of ObamaCare is a shoo-in, but moderate Republicans may feel pressure to vote against the legislation. It is also unclear how many Democrats would support the move.
Trump's tweet was in stark contrast to his faith in the Senate just hours before when he predicted the legislation would pass.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., acknowledged the roadblock and, like Trump, said he plans a repeal vote. McConnell also mentioned a two-year delay for a substitute.
"Regretfully, it's now apparent that the effort to repeal and immediately replace the failure of Obamacare will not be successful," McConnell said in a statement. "So, in the coming days, the Senate will vote to take up the House bill with the first amendment in order being what a majority of the Senate has already supported in 2015 and that was vetoed by then-President Obama: a repeal of Obamacare with a two-year delay to provide for a stable transition period to a patient-centered health care system that gives Americans access to quality, affordable care."
It was the second straight failure for McConnell, who had to cancel a vote on an earlier version of the bill last month when defeat became inevitable.
Trump failed to rally support for what has been the GOP's trademark issue for seven years — ever since President Obama and the Democrats passed the Affordable Care Act in 2010.
Republicans won the White House and full control of Congress in large part on the basis of their promises to repeal and replace the health law but have struggled to overcome their deep internal divisions and deliver.
The Associated Press reported that Democrats "could barely contain their glee."
"This second failure of Trumpcare is proof positive that the core of this bill is unworkable," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said. "Rather than repeating the same failed, partisan process yet again, Republicans should start from scratch and work with Democrats on a bill that lowers premiums, provides long term stability to the markets and improves our health care system."

Susan Rice to Testify on Capitol Hill Tuesday on Unmasking of Pres. Trump’s Team

Susan Rice is set to answer questions in front of the House Select Committee on Intelligence on Tuesday, July 17, 2017. (Kevin Lamarque / Reuters)

Susan Rice will be in the hot seat on capitol hill Tuesday facing questions from House lawmakers.
Obama’s National Security Adviser will be grilled on whether she “unmasked” top members of President Trump’s transition team.
President Trump says Rice may have committed a crime by asking government officials to release the names of his associates on intelligence reports.
Rice’s testimony before the House Select Committee on Intelligence will be closed to the public.
She has denied all claims, but has yet to go before a panel to answer questions.

Mysterious Deaths May Be Linked to the Clinton Foundation

A former Haitian government official is found dead ahead of his expected testimony on the Clinton Foundation’s corruption and malpractice.
One America’s Marty Golingan has more on how his suspected suicide and the death of a GOP operative may be tied to Hillary Clinton.