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[webfact]

Trump dealt setback on healthcare plan as House puts off vote

By David Morgan and Richard Cowan

REUTERS

 

An emergency sign is shown at the entrance to the University of San Diego Health System in La Jolla, California, U.S., March 23, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday failed to close the deal with Republican lawmakers on how to dismantle Obamacare, forcing the House of Representatives to delay a vote on a healthcare bill that was supposed to be his first legislative win.

 

The day had been designed as a big symbolic win for conservatives. Trump and House Republican leaders planned the vote on the seventh anniversary of former Democratic President Barack Obama signing his namesake healthcare law, formally known as the Affordable Care Act, which became a prime target for Republicans.

 

Some Republican conservatives felt the new Trump-backed healthcare plan, formally called the American Health Care Act, did not go far enough, while some moderates worried the legislation would hurt their constituents, so the bill was postponed indefinitely as negotiations continued into the evening.

 

The White House has insisted there is no "Plan B" if the bill fails.

 

"I am desperately trying to get to ‘yes’ and I think the president knows that. I told him that personally," said North Carolina Congressman Mark Meadows, the chairman of a group of conservatives known as the Freedom Caucus, which has been critical of the bill.

 

"We're going to get to the finish line," Meadows told reporters.

 

Trump, who has been working the phones all week and bringing lawmakers into the Oval Office to talk, met with the Freedom Caucus on Thursday morning, and was set to later meet with moderate Republicans, known as the 'Tuesday Group.'

 

As the healthcare drama unfolded on Capitol Hill, Trump took a break from the negotiations to talk about the issue and hang out with some truckers, climbing into the cab of one long-haul transport truck parked on the back driveway of the White House, and blowing the horn a few times.

 

He told reporters the vote would be close but remained optimistic. "I think we’re doing well. We’ll find out in about three hours," he said, just as reports began to surface that the vote had been postponed.

 

Even if the bill does eventually get approval from the House, the legislation faces a potentially tough fight in the Republican-controlled Senate.

 

The House and Senate had hoped to deliver a new healthcare bill to Trump by April 8, when Congress is scheduled to begin a two-week spring break.

 

MARKET TURNED RED

 

The vote was seen by financial markets as a crucial test of Trump's ability to work with Congress to deliver on his agenda.

 

Uncertainty over the bill rattled financial markets this week. U.S. stock markets rose steadily in recent months on optimism over a pro-business Trump agenda but fell back sharply on Tuesday as investors worried that failure to push through the healthcare bill could postpone other Trump priorities like tax cuts and infrastructure spending.

 

"The continued divisions within the Republicans will, at the margin, raise concerns about the prospects for the pro-growth legislation that the White House plans to subsequently submit to Congress, including tax reform," said Mohamed El-Erian, chief economic adviser at financial group Allianz.

 

In the last 30 minutes of trading on Thursday, the benchmark S&P 500 stock index dipped as the first headlines moved about the vote delay. It closed down very slightly.

 

"Delay on healthcare equates to delay on tax cuts. That is why the market turned red when the news flow suggested they didn't have a deal," said David Kotok, chairman and chief investment officer at Cumberland Advisors, a money management firm.

But others said it was too soon to panic.

 

"If this thing gets materially delayed or if we get a 'no' vote, we're going to see a horrific market reaction. But if they vote in the morning and it passes, we'll have a hell of a rally," said Jake Dollarhide, chief executive officer of Longbow Asset Management in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

 

The delay in the house vote is likely to extend the ups and downs in the stocks of some hospital groups and health insurers.

 

REPUBLICAN PROMISE

 

Trump and Republicans had campaigned on a promise to repeal and replace Obamacare, passed in 2010.

 

Republican control of the White House, the Senate and the House has given the party a chance to achieve what it has long aspired to do - overturn a law they cast as too invasive and too expensive.

 

Obamacare aimed to boost the number of Americans with health insurance through mandates on individuals and employers, and income-based subsidies. Some 20 million Americans gained insurance coverage through the law.

 

The House replacement plan would rescind the taxes created by Obamacare, repeal a penalty against people who do not buy coverage, slash funding for the Medicaid programme for the poor and disabled, and modify tax subsidies that help individuals buy plans.

 

The Republican plan got more unwelcome news late on Thursday from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, which said that the latest version of the bill would reduce the U.S. budget deficit by less than the original version. The smaller deficit reduction was expected due to tweaks made this week to try to build support for the bill.

 

But the CBO said the revised plan would still have the same impact as the original bill on the level of uninsured Americans, with 24 million fewer people having medical coverage by 2026.

 

The Republicans have a majority in the House but because of united Democratic opposition, can afford to lose only 21 Republican votes. As of Thursday morning, NBC News said that 30 Republicans had planned to vote "no" or were leaning that way.

 

With this delay, House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan and his Republican leadership team will continue to search for ways to alter the legislation and bring it to a vote.

 

(Additional reporting by Susan Cornwell, Steve Holland, Jeff Mason, Caroline Humer, Megan Davies, Emily Stephenson, Jennifer Ablan, Noel Randewich, Lewis Krauskopf, and Doina Chiacu; Writing by Frances Kerry and Roberta Rampton; Editing by Michael Perry, Bill Trott and Bill Rigby)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-03-24

[iReason]

Delayed vote a setback for Trump the dealmaker

In a frenetic day of closed-door talks, the president failed to win over enough of his fellow Republicans to pass a bill. (sub-title)

 

“The closer,” it turns out, needs extra innings."

 

"After a frenetic 48 hours of Oval Office lobbying sessions, closed-door talks in the Cabinet room and shuttle diplomacy on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, President Donald Trump and Speaker Paul Ryan pulled the plug Thursday on a scheduled vote on their health care legislation after falling short of the support needed for passage."

 

"The final straw for a Thursday deal was a lengthy White House meeting between Trump, his top lieutenants and the hardliner House Freedom Caucus, a group of conservatives who have pushed to strip requirements that insurance companies provide standard benefits such as maternity care in coverage plans."

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/03/trump-dealmaker-obamacare-repeal-health-care-bill-236438

 

Trump Promises 'Insurance For Everybody'

"President-elect Donald Trump says his proposal to replace Obamacare will guarantee "insurance for everybody" and "great health care" that is "much less expensive and much better."

http://www.weeklystandard.com/trump-promises-insurance-for-everybody/article/2006324

 

Trump insists health care replacement will have 'insurance for everybody'

"President-elect Donald Trump revealed in an interview with The Washington Post that he’s almost finished with a plan to replace ObamaCare and vowed to have “insurance for everybody.”

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01/16/trump-reportedly-insists-healthcare-replacement-will-have-insurance-for-everybody.html

 

Health Insurance “For Everybody” And The “Government Will Pay” Says “Republican” Donald Trump. AGAIN.

http://www.redstate.com/absentee/2017/01/16/health-insurance-everybody-government-will-pay-says-republican-president-elect-donald-trump-again/

 

The inept fool couldn't even get his own party on board.

And the Clowns only had 7 years to come up with an alternate plan. 

 

Edited March 24, 2017 by iReason

[craigt3365]

It's really sad that Trump and the republicans are trying to ram this through no matter the consequences.  It's been proven it won't help.  Actually, it will hurt many.  What's needed is a long term analysis of the health care problem and a bipartisan agreement on what needs to get done.  Sadly, it doesn't look like that will happen.  Trump just wants to kill a legacy of Obama.  No matter the consequences.  Glad he didn't make it.

 

So much for him being a deal maker.  Strike one.

[selftaopath]

31 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

It's really sad that Trump and the republicans are trying to ram this through no matter the consequences.  It's been proven it won't help.  Actually, it will hurt many.  What's needed is a long term analysis of the health care problem and a bipartisan agreement on what needs to get done.  Sadly, it doesn't look like that will happen.  Trump just wants to kill a legacy of Obama.  No matter the consequences.  Glad he didn't make it.

 

So much for him being a deal maker.  Strike one.

All Koch Bros party want to totally eliminate anything Obama. Are they bigots, interested in making the rich richer? lol Guess ya know what I think? :-) Fake President is the most corrupt in history and might be remembered as the most hated. Hope there is a cell for him; either padded or hard is ok.

 

Hypocrites of the highest order.

[boomerangutang]

The White House has insisted there is no "Plan B" if the bill fails.

The WH has zero credibility. Who believes anything they announce?

 

[Silurian]

The doofus POTUS thinks that by stating "either play ball or I am going home and taking the ball with me" that other Republicans will just pass an unpopular health bill. He has got nothing. These congressmen know that the bill is extremely unpopular and risk mass voter support exodus if they vote in favor of it.

 

Trump threatens to leave ObamaCare in place if repeal bill fails

http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/325568-trump-tells-gop-to-take-it-or-leave-it-on-obamacare-repeal

 

Part of me hopes they do pass the bill so the Republicans face massive defeats in 2018 and 2020. That would be a big slap in the administration's face.

 

In the end, this is a lose/lose situation for the Republicans. The doofus POTUS will wash his hands of the whole thing if it fails and blame it on everyone else but himself.

[otherstuff1957]

There is a far right wing minority in the US Congress called the 'Freedom Caucus", aka the Tea Party.  They comprise about 12 -13% of the Republican Members of Congress, or about 7% of the total House of Rep.  They have just enough members to deprive the Republicans of a majority.

 

Now, some people (including myself) believe that free public health care is a basic human right and should be the government's responsibility.  Others believe that health care is the responsibility of each individual and that the government has no business in interfering or regulating the health care (or any other) market.  The majority in the US probably fall somewhere in between these two extremes.

 

The Tea Party obviously believe that the government should not be involved with health care and will probably shoot down any compromise, unless enough of them realize that their rhetoric is inhumane and too far out of touch with 21st century ethics.

[craigt3365]

No easy answers for health care.  Private or government run, both have issues.  Though something needs to be done.  The US spends a lot on health care and doesn't deliver according to this expenditure.

[maewang99]

Medicaid is flat out not sustainable... and not just funding wise.  we don't even have enough physical resources for it... even if we conjure up more printed money... and his travel bans and language don't help at all either.

 

I'm waiting for Ian Bremmer to make it ****official****

Trump has morphed into a lame duck while still in his first 100 Days.

 

it's supposed to be the last couple of months, in 2020 or something?

just a little ahead of schedule. 
 

Edited March 24, 2017 by maewang99

[webfact]

Trump demands do-or-die Friday vote on healthcare plan

By Susan Cornwell and Amanda Becker

 

U.S. President Donald Trump smiles while attending a Women in Healthcare panel at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 22, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will get a second chance to try to close the deal with Republican lawmakers on dismantling Obamacare in a high-stakes vote on a new healthcare bill rescheduled for Friday.

 

After a week of calling Republican lawmakers and bringing them into the Oval Office for meetings, Trump was dealt a setback on Thursday when a vote on what was supposed to have been his first legislative victory had to be postponed because of opposition from two flanks in the party.

 

Conservatives felt the bill did not go far enough to repeal Obama's namesake healthcare legislation, and moderates felt the plan could hurt their constituents.

 

House Republican leaders had signalled they were ready to work through the weekend to figure out a way to reconcile their differences. But Trump sent his top lieutenants to a dramatic meeting on Capitol Hill on Thursday night with a message: he was done talking.

 

White House budget director Mick Mulvaney told House Republicans at a Thursday night meeting that Trump was finished negotiating and wanted a vote, said Representative Chris Collins of New York, a top Trump ally.

 

"The president has said he wants a vote tomorrow, up or down," Collins said.

 

"If for any reason it is down, we are just going to move forward with additional parts of his agenda" like tax reform, Collins told reporters after leaving the meeting.

 

There were last-minute changes being considered to the bill. But it was unclear whether the House of Representatives would be able to pass it, said North Carolina Congressman Mark Meadows, the chairman of a group of conservatives known as the Freedom Caucus, which has been critical of the bill.

 

"I'm still optimistic" about reaching an agreement, Meadows told reporters.

 

The Republicans have a majority in the House but because of united Democratic opposition, can afford to lose only 21 Republican votes. As of Thursday morning, NBC News said that 30 Republicans had planned to vote "no" or were leaning that way.

 

The vote was seen by financial markets as a crucial test of Trump's ability to work with Congress to deliver on other priorities like tax cuts and infrastructure spending.

 

Trump and Republicans had campaigned on a promise to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, passed in 2010. They see the law as too invasive and expensive.

 

Even if their replacement plan does eventually get approval from the House, the legislation faces a potentially tough fight in the Republican-controlled Senate.

 

The House and Senate had hoped to deliver a new healthcare bill to Trump by April 8, when Congress is scheduled to begin a two-week spring break.

 

Graphic on Obamacare and Republican healthcare bill (http://tmsnrt.rs/2n0ZMKf)

Graphic on shifting positions in the U.S. Senate on Republican healthcare bill (http://tmsnrt.rs/2mUE4Xf)

Graphic on poll on Americans' views of the Republican healthcare bill ( http://tmsnrt.rs/2n7f3e4)

 

(Additional reporting by David Morgan, David Lawder, Amanda Becker, Eric Beech, Eric Walsh, Steve Holland, Jeff Mason, Caroline Humer, Megan Davies, Emily Stephenson, Jennifer Ablan, Noel Randewich, Lewis Krauskopf, and Doina Chiacu; Writing by Frances Kerry and Roberta Rampton; Editing by Michael Perry, Bill Trott and Bill Rigby)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-03-24

 

[Briggsy]

What is the view of Big Pharma and the Health Insurance lobby on this bill?

[darksidedog]

I don't think Donald and Co understand it is not going through smoothly, because it is quite simply a very bad piece of legislation.

[craigt3365]

18 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

I don't think Donald and Co understand it is not going through smoothly, because it is quite simply a very bad piece of legislation.

They know quite well it's not going smoothly.  Thus, all the frantic meetings lately.  Trump is working this hard.  But yes, a bad piece of legislation all due to Trump not liking Obama.  Terrible way to run a country.

[craigt3365]

Trump already has his fall guy:

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/23/politics/trump-health-care/index.html

Quote

 

With the result of Friday's vote uncertain, there were already signs that the White House was preparing to lay the blame on House Speaker Paul Ryan should the bill fail.

 

Trump is "pissed" that the bill is struggling to pass, a source told CNN. The President is also frustrated that his staff has been unable to clear the way to passage and feels misled by those aides who advised him to sign onto the GOP leadership's repeal bill, the source close to the President said.

 

And of course, blaming others for his failures.  Typical megalomaniac.

Quote

After days of trying to charm members of Congress, Trump gave them an ultimatum: If they don't vote yes Friday, he will move on and saddle them with the shame of failing to repeal Obamacare, a cherished GOP goal.

 

He's a terrible leader.

[selftaopath]

3 hours ago, maewang99 said:

Medicaid is flat out not sustainable... and not just funding wise.  we don't even have enough physical resources for it... even if we conjure up more printed money... and his travel bans and language don't help at all either.

 

I'm waiting for Ian Bremmer to make it ****official****

Trump has morphed into a lame duck while still in his first 100 Days.

 

it's supposed to be the last couple of months, in 2020 or something?

just a little ahead of schedule. 
 

Yea he's lame alright and that's being kind. I have much strong words but will resist stating them.... at this moment. 

[selftaopath]

2 hours ago, darksidedog said:

I don't think Donald and Co understand it is not going through smoothly, because it is quite simply a very bad piece of legislation.

Humnnnnn or perhaps they do and don't care. Hell the Koch bro bastards said they'll throw protection money at all those who vote for it in the next election.

[selftaopath]

43 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

Trump already has his fall guy:

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/23/politics/trump-health-care/index.html

And of course, blaming others for his failures.  Typical megalomaniac.

 

He's a terrible leader.

Humnnnnn I don't think I'd use the term "leader" for this bullyboy and Bannon/Putin puppet. 

[pegman]

The polls say it is favored by 17%. Let it pass and keep giving him more rope.

[elgordo38]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

"We're going to get to the finish line," Meadows told reporters.

 

I think your there now. A lot of these holdout flunkies are mulling around in their heads Trump's threats that they might not be re-elected if they do not go along with his rob the poor give to the rich scheme. Sorry Donald the sheen is starting to wear off your "Make America Great Again" promises. The poor are starting to realize when you made this statement it only included the rich and big business. 

[elgordo38]

2 minutes ago, pegman said:

The polls say it is favored by 17%. Let it pass and keep giving him more rope.

The hold outs read the polls to and realize that they may be backing the wrong horse as far as their re-election hopes go. Politicians never do things for the common good they are only good at reading poll entrails. 

[elgordo38]

40 minutes ago, selftaopath said:

Humnnnnn or perhaps they do and don't care. Hell the Koch bro bastards said they'll throw protection money at all those who vote for it in the next election.

Quite a carrot caveat from the Koch Bros. Seems to me that there is some sort of bribery going on here. 

[Thaidream]

It is horrid legislation- much worse than Obamacare as it favors the wealthy and takes from the poor. In addition, it will push many off the insurance rolls because they cannot afford the premiums.

Of course, if it does not pass, Trump will blame everyone except himself. I do believe that his grass roots support is starting to shrink because people are starting to realize he is a liar and a conman which is why he lost the popular vote by 3 million votes. 

I doubt this man can last 4 years. If he isn't impeached he may be removed from office utilizing the 25th Amendment.  The next mid term election will send a strong message as the Dems will regain the Senate and  even possibly the House.

Donald doesn't have to worry- he will always have a home- in Russia.До свидания (dasvidania Comrade Donald)

[spidermike007]

9 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

It's really sad that Trump and the republicans are trying to ram this through no matter the consequences.  It's been proven it won't help.  Actually, it will hurt many.  What's needed is a long term analysis of the health care problem and a bipartisan agreement on what needs to get done.  Sadly, it doesn't look like that will happen.  Trump just wants to kill a legacy of Obama.  No matter the consequences.  Glad he didn't make it.

 

So much for him being a deal maker.  Strike one.

 

The only deals he has ever made in his life, were deals that were terrible for the other guy he was doing business with. He does not know or play fair. It is not within him. In this case the other guy is the American people. Very soon, his fan base will start understanding his nature, and how he operates. 

[Jingthing]

The promises he made in the campaign were impossible in any non universal single payer system. All rational people got that. Now this bill he is pushing is a pile of garbage and he can't sell it anymore saying it is terrific. Last I heard only 17 percent of Americans support the trumpcare plan. He wants a quick win on something so complex and consequential. It would be tragic if he gets it but on the other hand realistic fixes to the current ACA can't happen either with total Republican power. A very sad situation. Dysfunctional government with a clown leader.

[rijb]

12 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

 

The only deals he has ever made in his life, were deals that were terrible for the other guy he was doing business with. He does not know or play fair. It is not within him. In this case the other guy is the American people. Very soon, his fan base will start understanding his nature, and how he operates. 

I suspect his deal was with the Republican party.  The party supports him.  He supports their efforts to kill Obamacare.  I don't think he cares about healthcare one bit.

Edited March 24, 2017 by rijb

[spidermike007]

8 minutes ago, rijb said:

I suspect his deal was with the Republican party.  The party supports him.  He supports their efforts to kill Obamacare.  I don't think he cares about healthcare one bit.

 

Well, they support him, for now. My guess is that the congress and the senate will start to abandon him within the next year or so. Unless he is able to gain some traction. So far, we are not seeing much in the way of progress from this deflector in chief. 

[rijb]

Just now, spidermike007 said:

 

Well, they support him, for now. My guess is that the congress and the senate will start to abandon him within the next year or so. Unless he is able to gain some traction. So far, we are not seeing much in the way of progress from this deflector in chief. 

He might cut them loose, first.  His ego is big enough for him to think he doesn't need them.

[Thaidream]

If Trump had any real guts and wanted a universal healthcare system that would cover all Americans - he would go to a single payer system and expand the Medicare system to everyone. The cost would be handled by increasing the already paid medicare tax on one's salary slightly and make it free for the unemployed or those over 65. Instead of spending upwards of $25 Billion on a useless border wall and increase the American military budget -already the largest in the World- by another $54 Billion- he could use those Billions and put it toward real healthcare for Americans.  That is how you make a country great- not by robbing the poor to take care of the rich.

There is not a day that goes by when Donald Trump does not irritate millions of Americans and citizens of other countries with his complete lack of decorum; insensitivity; and utter incompetence.

[boomerangutang]

4 hours ago, selftaopath said:

Humnnnnn or perhaps they do and don't care. Hell the Koch bro bastards said they'll throw protection money at all those who vote for it in the next election.

 

3 hours ago, elgordo38 said:

Quite a carrot caveat from the Koch Bros. Seems to me that there is some sort of bribery going on here. 

The Koch bros. are against Trump/Ryan care.  Kochs think it doesn't go far enough in feathering rich peoples' nests while shafting the little people.  Koch's have declared they'll fund Republicans (in upcoming elections) who oppose the bill, and ignore those who favor the Republican bill.  

 

 

[rijb]

9 minutes ago, Thaidream said:

There is not a day that goes by when Donald Trump does not irritate millions of Americans and citizens of other countries with his complete lack of decorum; insensitivity; and utter incompetence.

Which might trigger more people to seek medical help.  Hope they have insurance.