Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Koch-Backed Group Disappointed By GOP Plan: 'We Were Caught Flat-Footed' Over Lack Of Full Repeal
Officials with the conservative U.S. political network overseen by the Koch brothers say they are unhappy with the healthcare bill that may be voted on by the Senate this week and will lobby for changes to it. At a weekend event with conservative donors, top aides to Charles Koch, the billionaire energy magnate, said the Senate bill does not go far enough to dismantle former President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law, also known as Obamacare. (Oliphant, 6/25)
The head of the the Koch brothers-backed Americans for Prosperity admitted to donors on Sunday that the group was caught 鈥渇lat-footed" by the fight in Congress to replace Obamacare, as the group seeks to influence Republican proposals it says do not go far enough to repeal the 2010 law. 鈥淲e fully expected a repeal vote,鈥 Americans for Prosperity President Tim Phillips told hundreds of donors at the Koch network鈥檚 annual seminar at the Broadmoor Resort. 鈥淲e were caught flat-footed when it didn鈥檛 happen." (Robillard, 6/25)
鈥淚n all candor, we鈥檝e been disappointed that movement is not more dramatic toward a full repeal or rollback (of the Affordable Care Act). But we鈥檙e not walking away,鈥 said Tim Phillips, the president of Americans for Prosperity. 鈥淲e still think this can get done, but the Senate bill needs to get better.鈥 (Hohmann, 6/24)
One key lawmaker attending the weekend summit at the luxurious Broadmoor Hotel, Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), the chairman of the House Freedom Caucus and a chief negotiator on the House bill, outlined two key changes to the bill that he said could likely win enough conservative support for passage. (Mascaro, 6/25)
The organization said it plans to spend $300 to $400 million in the 2018 midterm elections. (Garcia, 6/26)