State Republicans flex their muscles for taking on ‘woke’ financial firms
Lawmakers and their aides are fighting over whose version of Trumpcare is worse – and the Senate is in session on Republican bills to gut the Affordable Care Act.
Republican lawmakers were united in their opposition to the measure, which critics said would take away protections from pre-existing conditions, and in pushing Senate leaders to bring it up for a vote.
It’s a sign that even in times of political crisis, the party’s leaders don’t shy away from fighting to advance their agendas. As Democrats prepare to take over the House of Representatives, Republicans are still fighting a legal battle over their healthcare legislation, which is already facing a court challenge.
The standoff is forcing Capitol Hill staff to work with colleagues from the other party so they can pass their own laws, rather than being burdened with the day-to-day work of having to negotiate on one.
Lawmakers are also using their time to attack their opponents in the hopes of rallying opposition for a vote.
They want to make the case to voters that what they’re offering doesn’t bring them any closer to a Democratic plan to repeal Obamacare.
Democrats and the White House insist that Republican healthcare bills represent their best chance of finally getting past a Senate filibuster. They are making the case that the current plans are the only way to go forward until Republicans can work out a compromise with Democrats on the Senate floor.
On Monday, Senate Republicans moved ahead on their own healthcare legislation, with a procedural vote to begin debate on the so-called’skinny care’ bill.
Democrats are planning to oppose the measure, which critics are calling more of the same.
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GOP senators: On the Senate floor, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (right), Majority Whip John Cornyn (left), Senator John Kennedy (center) and Senator John Thune (right) talk with reporters on Monday
Scrutiny: Democrats and Trump are putting pressure on the Republican leadership to get a healthcare bill to the Senate floor before the November elections
Sticks and stones: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (right) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (left) are seen talking after a group of Senate Republicans passed the repeal legislation on Monday
‘We’re going to make sure that we do not have a bill that does not meet the requirements of the Constitution – the requirements to repeal Obamacare.’
For the moment,