The new healthcare bill includes an 'Alaska Purchase' to woo a key senator

[HarmonyRockets]

On Tuesday evening, Robert VerBruggen of National Review noticed something odd: The financial projections produced by Sen. Bill Cassidy's office showed that, in 2026, his healthcare proposal would award each state almost precisely $4,400 in federal subsidy for each "eligible beneficiary" — except Alaska, which would receive $6,500, or 48% more than everybody else.

Hmm. Do we know anybody from Alaska?


Projections from Sen. Bill Cassidy's office showed every state would get almost exactly $4,400 per eligible beneficiary in 2026, except Alaska, which would get 48% extra.

Making things odder: Neither VerBruggen nor I could locate the provision in the bill that seemed to authorize this Alaska Purchase.

So I asked a staffer in Cassidy's office and was told the office would be revising the projections. The spreadsheet came down off the senator's website after I inquired about it.

More:

http://www.businessinsider.com/graham-cassidy-health-care-bill-alaska-purchase-lisa-murkowski-vote-2017-9

[democratisphere]

1. I thought this was supposed to be a porkless bill.

redumbliCONs always cheating.

[TexasBushwhacker]

2. Perhaps, but until then they will lose $1 Billion a year

Alaska's independent governor is against Graham/Cassidy, so I'm betting Murkowski will vote no also.

[BigmanPigman]

3. That IS good news! She said she WANTS people to call her offices

yesterday, even people from out of state! That is a new one. She wants to keep Planned Parenthood so call her and mention that too. [phone] THANK YOU!

[unblock]

4. The provision isn't in the bill? Omg, they even lie to each other!

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Like either $4400 or $6500 will purchase health insurance by 2026.

[spanone]

6. it's called 'buying a vote'. should be illegal.

[lamp_shade]

7. Didn't they try to buy her vote the last time? Didn't she vote "no" anyway?

[raven mad]

8. Yeah. Omfg, y'all BELIEVE this?

http://www.newsminer.com/news/alaska_news/alaska-hospital-official-on-gop-health-bill-states-of-chaos/article_d61635ea-9f3d-11e7-b73b-57c39018c386.html