Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
McConnell Will Bring Graham-Cassidy To Floor Next Week -- But Only If He's Sure It Will Pass
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) plans to bring a bill to undo the Affordable Care Act to the Senate floor next week, a McConnell spokesman said Wednesday. His statement marked McConnell鈥檚 most concrete commitment yet to moving ahead with the bill from Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.). It signaled that a vote would be expected next week. (Sullivan, 9/20)
A spokesman for Mr. McConnell (R., Ky.) said it was 鈥渢he leader鈥檚 intention to consider Graham-Cassidy on the floor next week,鈥 referring to the bill sponsored by GOP Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. The spokesman鈥檚 statement didn鈥檛 commit the Senate to a vote, which would need to happen before the end of next week for Republicans to pass the measure by a simple majority. (Peterson and Radnofsky, 9/20)
McConnell has told colleagues he will only bring up the bill if it will succeed. The statement does leave some wiggle room to not proceed with a vote. It's still anyone's guess whether the bill's backers can get to 50 votes. One Republican senator suggested that McConnell may ultimately decide to bring the bill up for another failed vote, in part to show GOP donors and President Donald Trump that the Senate GOP tried again. (Everett and Kim, 9/20)
The Senate is in a bit of a time crunch to take another crack at repealing the ACA. The goal is to move the legislation under budget reconciliation rules, which only require a simply majority for passage. The Senate parliamentarian said budget reconciliation rules end with the fiscal year on Sept. 30. (Weinstock, 9/20)
