So the big issue this time w Murkowski is that Graham Cassidy cuts way back on Medicaid spending. Alaska gets a lot of Medicaid $ from obamacare.

Pretty sad that health insurance for all of the U.S. gets screwed up because of Alaska Medicaid.

Sounds like there are some "special" negotiations going on to see if Alaska's "needs" can be met. Remember the Harry Reid "special" negotiations to pass obamacare ?

BTW, 184,000 people in Alaska are covered by Medicaid.

obamacare repeal being held up over 184,000 people

Who could forget the thousands of OCare waivers? Apparently this is how you break up a national political alliance to eliminate OCare - by getting two or three members of the alliance (or their constituencies) accustomed to being bribed with the taxpayers' hard-earned money for any and all votes cast in Congress.

I agree with a prior poster that the Repubs loved having Obamacare as a campaign issue, just like illegal immigration, because of fundrasing potential but when clock strikes noon, they really don't want to repeal either.

The abosolute first rule for any politician is to get re-elected to retain influence and power and while the Chamber and other businesses have all the money that us as Joe Six Pack don't, corporation and the Chamber don't vote - we do and that's something that big money can't overcome.

So now the politicians are facing a put up or shut up moment and they must do something otherwise a lot of them will be out of a job or power after the next election.

So they'll sell it to themselves and us as follows:

"No bill with this many issues and concerns is easy and no one gets everything they want in a single bill. We will enact what is possible today in a furtherance of our promise to repeal Obamacare and we'll continue to work taking additional steps to rollback even more of it. Our goal has never changed and we need to work more but take the victories we can."

It's all smoke and mirrors.

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:
Republicans Push New Obamacare 'Repeal.'
Here Are 4 Things You Need To Know.
By Ben Shapiro

...this won’t be an Obamacare repeal. It will be a continuation of Obamacare, with significant cuts to Medicaid. Until key Obamacare regulations and taxes are fully removed, watch for premiums to increase as the individual mandate is repealed.

So.... it's not a repeal, and premiums are going up?

quote:

Until key Obamacare regulations and taxes are fully removed, watch for premiums to increase as the individual mandate is repealed.

It only makes sense that if you lift the mandate, young and healthy people will be the ones dropping their over-priced insurance.
That accelerates the death spiral of the exchanges because it's the sickest people who will remain.

This battle is fought as much in the media, by the Hollywood elite, as it is in Washington by the Washington elite....


Kimmel Threatens Fox News Host: 'I'll Pound You When I See You'
"You phony little creep"



Comedian Jimmy Kimmel's self-designated role as the moral authority on universal healthcare due to his son needing open heart surgery (see Ben Shapiro's response to this) has erupted into a personal feud with Fox News host Brian Kilmeade to the point of threatening physical assault.

Speaking on his late-night program on Wednesday, Kimmel responded to some of the backlash to his pleas for universal healthcare and took serious issue with a statement made by Brian Kilmeade on FOX & Friends earlier that day accusing him of pushing politics on people from his privileged status as a "Hollywood elite."

"So these politically charged Emmys may have been the lowest rated in history but that's not stopping Hollywood elites like comedian Jimmy Kimmel for pushing their politics on the rest of the country," said Kilmeade.

Kimmel pulled no punches on Brian and made the fight very personal, calling him a wannabe "creep" who needs a serious pounding.

The reason I found this comment to be particularly annoying is because this is a guy, Brian Kilmeade, who whenever I see him kisses my ass like a little boy meeting Batman. Oh, he's such a fan!

He follows me on Twitter. He asked me to write a blurb for his book, which I did. He calls my agent, looking for projects. He's dying to be a member of the Hollywood elite. The only reason he's not a member of the Hollywood elite is because nobody will hire him to be one.

And, you know, the reason I'm talking about this is because my son had an open-heart surgery and has to have two more, and because of that I learned there are kids with no insurance in the same situation.

I don't get anything out of this, Brian, you phony little creep. Oh, I'll pound you when I see you.

Kimmel embellished some of the facts about Kilmeade's alleged "ass kissing" in that rant, which prompted a quick response from the Fox News host to clarify a few points about this so-called sycophantic relationship. For one, Kimmel makes it sound like Brian asked him for a blurb just last week, when in actuality, he asked him 14 years ago in 2003 when Kimmel was a host for Fox Sports. Two, the book had everything to do with sports and nothing with politics.

Kilmeade also thanked the late-night host for his solid work as a comedian as well his passion for the healthcare debate. He suggested that Kimmel engage in more debate with actual Republicans on the issue.

"I hope your son gets better. I hope your son gets all the care he needs," Kilmeade said. "I'm glad you're interested, you're doing a great job bringing the dialogue out. But you should do what we're doing. Talk to the people that wrote it."

"Continue to do a great job," Kilmeade concluded. "Best luck with your son."

http://www.dailywire.com/news/...d-you-when-paul-bois

When the hell did the opinion of a talk show host suddenly start directing US Government policy?

I guarantee that in the past you would have NEVER heard someone in government pushing a bill refer to the Johnny Carson, or Jack Benny test.

It's not bad enough that your entire comedic existence lately is based on running down the President, but now you as a citizen who doesn't use Obama care has taken it upon yourself to be the champion?

quote:

Comedian Jimmy Kimmel's self-designated role as the moral authority on universal healthcare...

and he's not even funny.
But... lot's of people get their "news" from these types of late night comedy shows.
They are inside a bubble, patting themselves on the back for their own self-determined moral authority.

There are many things in Graham Cassidy bill that I like. But it is impossible to predict how it is all going to play out. How CBO can "score" this bill is beyond me.

The key is so much authority is passed to each individual state. States which expanded Medicaid will get hurt (esp California and Massachusetts)

One report says REPs are going all out to get Murkowski's vote:

https://hotair.com/archives/20...-vote-extra-goodies/

This draft includes 3 separate provisions benefitting Alaska.

1. Alaska (along with Hawaii) will continue to receive Obamacare’s premium tax credits while they are repealed for all other states. It appears this exemption will not affect Alaska receiving its state allotment under the new block grant in addition to the premium tax credits.

2. Delays implementation of the Medicaid per capita caps for Alaska and Hawaii for years in which the policy would reduce their funding below what they would have received in 2020 plus CPI-M [Consumer Price Index for Medical Care].

3. Provides for an increased federal Medicaid matching rate (FMAP) for both Alaska and Hawaii.”


(are they trying to get Hawaii DEM senators too ? That sounds too far over the top)

I don't like this "bribery" at all, but if that is what it takes to move off obamacare, so be it. Harry Reid bribed multiple senators with special favors in obamacare to get it through 7 years ago.

Obamacare is failing (almost) everywhere. We need to try something else. If you live in a state controlled by DEMs, you might see something similar to obamacare even under Graham Cassidy.

The more I read on this, the more ridiculous Rand Paul's position is.

just saw this write up of an interview with Sen Bill Cassidy
(co author of the Graham Cassidy bill)

definitely worth a read. highly recommended

http://www.breitbart.com/radio...power-state-patient/

Thusly spoke Kimmel:

quote:

And, you know, the reason I'm talking about this is because my son had an open-heart surgery and has to have two more, and because of that I learned there are kids with no insurance in the same situation.

Mr. Kimmel, IF there are kids with no insurance under Obama Care, doesn't this demonstrate that Obama Care is a failure?

It is not the poor that don't have insurance - no, they have Medicaid and there are NO copays or deductibles. But for the working class Americans, there are huge premiums, copays and deductibles. These are middle class Americans, who can't afford any insurance. And that was not true before Obama Care.

I see no redeeming value in Kimmel.

quote:

Originally posted by Rightwire:
When the hell did the opinion of a talk show host suddenly start directing US Government policy?

I guarantee that in the past you would have NEVER heard someone in government pushing a bill refer to the Johnny Carson, or Jack Benny test.

It's not bad enough that your entire comedic existence lately is based on running down the President, but now you as a citizen who doesn't use Obama care has taken it upon yourself to be the champion?

Kimmel is a victim, the source of all moral authority in the Universe.

Knowing what you are talking about only gets you so far. Motherhood gives you some entitlement to command events. Victimhood trumps (sorry) them all, and no one dares to go up agaunst a victim whose victimhood arises out of motherhood.

It's Queen for a Day, in real life.

Shocker: Maine Socialist Susan Collins "Leaning Against" Obamacare Repeal
Another Shock: JOHN McCAIN, HERO OF CONSERVATISM, WILL VOTE TO SAVE OBAMACARE

What we need to do is protect our most liberal senators by voting in solidarity with them, or cancelling votes so as not to embarrass them, so that the GOP is always defined by its most liberal elements.

It's worked like gangbusters so far.

BTW, I realize Rand Paul is against this bill for retaining many parts of Obamacare. I get that. But that's not why Susan Collins is against it. Remember, she was one of the last to announce she was opposing Obamacare in the first place -- probably only because she knew the Democrats had enough votes and didn't need hers. So she probably voted against it purely as a tactical move.

And Here It Is: John McCain comes in to White Knight for his fellow socialist traveler, and will protect her by voting against the bill too.

McCain: "I cannot in good conscience vote for the Graham-Cassidy proposal"



SO, once again he's claiming his only problem is with procedure.

"McCain Strikes Again," Drudge headlines.

John Fucking McCain.

I hate his guts

McCain:

" I would consider supporting legislation similar to that offered by my friends Senators Graham and Cassidy were it the product of extensive hearings, debate and amendment . But that has not been the case. Instead, the specter of September 30th budget reconciliation deadline has hung over this entire process.

"We should not be content to pass health care legislation on a party-line basis, as Democrats did when they rammed Obamacare through Congress in 2009. If we do so, our success could be as short-lived as theirs when the political winds shift, as they regularly do.

The issue is too important, and too many lives are at risk, for us to leave the American people guessing from one election to the next whether and how they will acquire health insurance. A bill of this impact requires a bipartisan approach.

McCain can fuck right off. He needs to go away already.

People will cheer his death.
He's blown any goodwill he may have once had.

Well.... at least someone is happy with McCain:
Jimmy Kimmel‏
Verified account @jimmykimmel

Thank you @SenJohnMcCain for being a hero again and again and now AGAIN

Does anyone here doubt that Obamacare is collapsing further every day, and that it's only a matter of time before it ceases to function altogether?

John McCain, childish obstructionist that he is, may be our savior. Believe me when I say that I want him to be out of the Senate immediately, but the self-centered jackass may- without realizing it- help President Trump achieve his goal in the long run.

Perhaps it will be that the very last news McCain hears out of Washington before his death is that he, in a roundabout way, gave President Trump one of his greatest victories.

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:
People will cheer his death.
He's blown any goodwill he may have once had.

Well.... at least someone is happy with McCain:
Jimmy Kimmel‏
Verified account @jimmykimmel

Thank you @SenJohnMcCain for being a hero again and again and now AGAIN

Democrats all over Twitter are praising him. Nuff said. He’s a national embarressmanet in my book

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Does anyone here doubt that Obamacare is collapsing further every day, and that it's only a matter of time before it ceases to function altogether?

John McCain, childish obstructionist that he is, may be our savior. Believe me when I say that I want him to be out of the Senate immediately, but the self-centered jackass may- without realizing it- help President Trump achieve his goal in the long run.

I don’t believe it will ever collapse or fail. I think they will simply take more of my money to make it work...like every other entitlement that only grows and never shrinks.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Does anyone here doubt that Obamacare is collapsing further every day, and that it's only a matter of time before it ceases to function altogether?

John McCain, childish obstructionist that he is, may be our savior. Believe me when I say that I want him to be out of the Senate immediately, but the self-centered jackass may- without realizing it- help President Trump achieve his goal in the long run.

Perhaps it will be that the very last news McCain hears out of Washington before his death is that he, in a roundabout way, gave President Trump one of his greatest victories.

Absolutely true. Everyday Obamacare stays on the books it collapses a little more under its own weight. Trump was right about it eating itself alive in a couple of years and then the Dems will come crawling to the Repubs to pass something.

In the meantime, we all suffer and the message I get from all this is that the Democrats are happy with Obamacare as is and how it's proceeding.