Republican Senator Alexander to consult on bipartisan healthcare plan

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

#POLITICS SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 / 5:23 PM / UPDATED 12 MINUTES AGO

Republican Senator Alexander to consult on bipartisan healthcare plan

Reuters Staff
1 MIN READ

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Republican Senator Lamar Alexander said Tuesday that he would again consult with Democratic colleague Patty Murray on a bipartisan deal to repair Obamacare - a week after pulling out of those talks.

Alexander, in a statement, said he would seek “consensus on a limited bipartisan plan that could be enacted into law to help lower premiums and make insurance available to the 18 million Americans in the individual market in 2018 and 2019.”

Alexander and Murray had been working to protect payments made to insurers to compensate for discounts to low-income Americans enrolled in Obamacare. Alexander pulled out of the talks a week ago as a Republican bill to repeal Obamacare gained momentum, but support for that bill has now collapsed.

Reporting by Susan Cornwell; Editing by Jonathan Oatis

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-healthcare-alexander/republican-senator-alexander-to-consult-on-bipartisan-healthcare-plan-idUSKCN1C134M

[OnDoutside]

1. It would be in the GOP'S interest to do as quick a deal as they

can, and then claim victory. The longer it continues, the worse it will get for them.

[Gothmog]

2. Lamar Alexander withdrew from negotiations to put pressure on Collins and others

This was a ploy to help on the latest repeal and replace effort. Now that this stupidity is dead, it is time to work on a bipartisan bill