Senate plans to vote next week on GOP health plan

WASHINGTON – Senate Republicans announced plans to vote next week on their Affordable Care Act, repeal, hoping that a push from President Donald Trump — and backing from conservative groups — will bring along the votes to pass an overhaul of the Obama health care law.

GOP leaders still don't have the 50 votes needed for passage. The bill, which remains a work in process, threatens to leave 22 million more people uninsured, and is unpopular with backing from just one in five Americans, polls show.

But the Republican whip, Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, told reporters that the leadership hopes to have a new draft ready later this week, which would allow the Congressional Budget Office to analyze it over the weekend, clearing the way for votes later next week.

Trump and GOP leaders are counting on the looming deadline to nudge reluctant Republicans to quit debating their bill — the Better Care Reconciliation Act — and vote.

They're warning GOP senators to consider the bleak political fallout of failing to deliver on their yearslong promise to repeal the ACA.

"What's standing in the way is just obviously every member of Congress has their own opinion," Vice President Mike Pence said Monday on Rush Limbaugh's radio show.

"I think we're going to get this done," said Pence, who is expected to be needed to cast the tie-breaking vote for passage, since Republicans have just 52 senators in their majority.

"It'd be the greatest honor of my life, Rush, if I had the privilege to be able to be the tie-breaking vote to repeal and replace Obamacare," Pence said.

The bill has been rejected by major health care providers, doctors and patient advocacy groups who warn it will destabilize insurance markets and leave many without coverage.

But it also has been panned by conservatives who want a more thorough gutting of ACA's taxes and mandates for insurance coverage.

In revising the bill, Republican leaders are expected to add provisions to draw conservative support, particularly one from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. It would allow insurers to offer bare-bones policies free of the current law's requirements.

That could create cheaper alternatives, at least for healthy consumers.

Critics warn the inevitable effect would be to raise costs for those who are not healthy and leave at least some consumers with plans that don't provide much coverage.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called the Cruz plan "a cruel, mean hoax" that would leave policy holders with skimpy plans. Some of Cruz's fellow Republicans also have expressed opposition.

Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 3 Republican, said deliberations continue, but added that the changes being considered "will hopefully address some of the concerns that have been raised."

While Cruz's plan could win right-leaning senators, leaders also are trying to appeal to centrists who are worried about steep cuts to Medicaid, perhaps by softening some reductions.

Senators have just a few weeks to act before leaving town for the long August recess, and GOP leaders are counting on pressure from the White House and outside groups to stiffen their members' resolve.

"I cannot imagine that Congress would dare to leave Washington without a beautiful new HealthCare bill fully approved and ready to go!" Trump tweeted.

Trump's director of legislative affairs, Marc Short, told reporters that Trump expects the Senate to act — or revert back to an earlier plan of passing an ACA repeal bill now and working later on a replacement plan.

But while Trump was able to cajole reluctant House Republicans to support an earlier GOP bill, dialing them up and inviting them to the White House, such overtures are less powerful among senators.

Senators also are facing a barrage of protests, at their offices in Washington and back home, from voters worried about losing health care. The Capitol Police arrested 80 protesters Monday.

Once voting begins, possibly as soon as Tuesday, the Senate will conduct what's called a vote-a-rama — a potentially daylong session of votes on amendments — before final passage.

If the bill clears the Senate, it would likely be quickly passed in the House.

Lawmakers are hesitant to recess for August with the issue unresolved.