Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Trump Blasts McCain, Puts Pressure On Wavering Senators
President Trump on Saturday morning lashed out at Senator John McCain of Arizona for breaking with him and opposing Republicans鈥 latest plan to roll back the Affordable Care Act, saying the senator had let his state down and been deceived by Democrats into abandoning a promise. (Davis, 9/23)
Unwilling to concede defeat on a bedrock GOP promise, President Donald Trump on Saturday tried to sway two Republican holdouts on the party's last-ditch health care hope while clawing at his nemesis who again has brought the "Obamacare" repeal-and-replace effort to the brink of failure. Trump appealed to Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a possible "no" vote, to swing around for the sake of Alaskans up in arms over high insurance costs, and suggested that Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul might reverse his stated opposition "for the good of the Party!" (Lucey, 9/23)
President Trump continued his criticism of Senator John McCain Saturday in a series of tweets that accused the Arizona legislator of letting his state down for opposing the GOP鈥檚 health care bill. (Gans, 9/23)
鈥淟arge Block Grants to States is a good thing to do. Better control & management,鈥 Mr. Trump tweeted Saturday. 鈥淕reat for Arizona. McCain let his best friend L.G. down!鈥 Mr. McCain was the second Republican to oppose the bill, following Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.) On Friday Sen. Susan Collins (R., Maine) said she was leaning against the legislation. Mr. Trump said Saturday that he hoped to persuade Mr. Paul to change his mind. (Peterson, 9/23)
Trump directed tweets at Senators Rand Paul of Kentucky and John McCain of Arizona. Both have said they鈥檒l oppose the bill, meaning one more committed 鈥渘o鈥 will sink the legislation. 鈥淚 know Rand Paul and I think he may find a way to get there for the good of the Party!鈥 Trump told his 39 million followers. (Litvan and Dennis, 9/22)
President Trump on Saturday chided Democrats who praised Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) opposition to Senate Republicans' latest effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. "Democrats are laughingly saying that McCain had a 'moment of courage,'" he wrote on Twitter. "Tell that to the people of Arizona who were deceived. 116% increase!" (Greenwood. 9/23)
White House legislative affairs director Marc Short on Sunday insisted that the Republican effort to repeal ObamaCare is not dead, despite a聽lack of support from several key GOP senators. 鈥淣o, Chris, it鈥檚 not dead,鈥 Short told Chris Wallace on 鈥淔ox News Sunday" when asked if the legislation is doomed. (Shelbourne, 9/24)
President Trump on Sunday afternoon expressed optimism over a Republican-led effort to repeal and replace ObamaCare. Speaking to reporters on the tarmac of Morristown Municipal Airport in New Jersey, Trump took a jab at Republican leaders who have either come out against or expressed doubt over the latest GOP health-care bill. (Conradis, 9/24)