Republicans attempt to buy Murkowski's vote in new draft of health care bill

[kstewart33]

Source: Independent Journal Review

A Republican Senate aide told Independent Journal Review Thursday that Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) are attempting to buy Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski's support through new changes to their controversial Obamacare repeal proposal before an expected vote next week. According to the aide, here is a summary of what the new draft of the bill entails:

"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 Alaska (along with Hawaii) will continue to receive Obamacare’s premium tax credits while they are repealed for all other states.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."

Read more: http://ijr.com/2017/09/979983-republicans-attempt-buy-murkowskis-vote-new-draft-health-care-bill/

[Ligyron]

1. How would that be fair to all the other states?

Those Reps should be raising holy hell.

So should everyone else with a brain.

[NastyRiffraff]

20. It's not meant to be fair

It's meant to buy her vote. They're not bothering to hide it.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

26. You'd think this would cause screams of "Where's mine!?" up and down the Senate halls.

[SergeStorms]

33. I think they know enough....

to keep their mouths closed because of the threat of retribution by the GOP hierarchy. The GOP will eat their own in order to get the desired results they want. They've done it before. There is absolutely no honor among Republican thieves.

[IronLionZion]

2. This sound like the cornhusker kickbacks

that the Dems used to bribe Ben Nelson to get his vote for the PPACA. Then promptly removed it.

Alaska won't see these kickbacks and Murkowski should be smart enough to understand that.

[kairos12]

24. Rethugs have no shame.

[global1]

3. Let's Hope That Murkowski Has Enough Integrity Not To Fall For This......nt

[RainCaster]

11. He's a repug, there is no integrity

[global1]

14. He's A She & She Voted Against The Last Attempt The Repugs Made To Repeal & Replace....

along with John McCain and Susan Collins. We have to appeal to these same people to do the same this time. In my mind it's a matter of integrity not to reverse what they did the last time. They need to put People over Party. I have to think that some of the Repugs have some redeeming qualities and integrity. I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt here.

[OldHippieChick]

17. Murkowsky is a "she"

and she voted no last time, so perhaps she deserves the benefit of the doubt.

[wolfie001]

21. The last vote means nothing now

Remember that lyric: "What have you done for me lately"

[bettyellen]

27. Lately? She voted against repealing Obamacare. Weeks ago.

[wolfie001]

41. I'm referring to the vote NOW!!!

Not the vote weeks ago. That's in the past. Hello?

[bettyellen]

42. Lately means recently. Not next week. And a big hello to you too.

[wolfie001]

43. Last time......

OBVIOUSLY my INITIAL point was in reference to the upcoming vote. You don't need to respond cause I'm done with this waste of time. Cheers

[bettyellen]

44. You should have chosen a catchphrase that applies then. Because she's done stuff for you lately. HA

[SergeStorms]

34. Sorry,

but no Republican can be trusted, nor does any Republican deserve the benefit of any doubt. That statement is based upon my own experiences with Republicans, only. And I'm an "old hippie guy", so I've had plenty of experience.

[we can do it]

40. He?

[Promee]

4. They don't care how it looks...

...to other people. All that matters is that it passes.

And all you have to do is look to McTreason. He has given himself the wiggle room to say that he would like to schedule a vote next week.

If he schedules it, he's got 50 and this passes.

I think Murkowski takes the deal.

Collins looks like she's going to go for it because all she's said so far is that, "I haven't gotten as many calls about this bill as the last one."

And I have no faith in John "Regular Order" McCain who cried about a lack of it and then voted to install Gorsuch anyway.

[BigmanPigman]

8. The only person who I think may actually vote NO is Murkowski.

Collins said she was on board with it a few weeks ago so she is going back and forth and I never trust traitor McCain. Murkowski said on TV that she WANTS people to call her office, even from out of state. That surprised me. She wants Planned Parenthood to be funded so if you call her mention that.

[Promee]

13. Well, if Murkowski doesn't take the bribe.

That's her. Rand Paul says no because "it doesn't go far enough," when I think the fact is that Kentucky likes them some Kynnect and even they will get bled out under the new law.

So it, like last time, hinges on John, "I wanna strut on TV" McCain.

I have no faith. I mean, if he MEANT that he wouldn't support any bill that didn't embrace regular order, there wouldn't be any silence. He would say, "No regular order here either, so I'm out."

But he's getting off on people continuing to live in fear right now no matter what he decides to do later.

[BigmanPigman]

31. His grandstanding and ego are almost as bad as

the fake prez! I do not trust him and he is NOT a hero politically to me. He is 100% asshole and GOP (which is redundant since the GOP is the party of assholes). Sick, greedy, hypocritical sociopaths run this government! They are all severely mentally ill.

[Scarsdale]

12. Chinless Mitch is so all fired

up about getting this passed, I wonder what is in it for him? Mucho $$$$ from wealthy donors? Something is behind his dogged determination to get a lousy "healthcare" bill passed.

[Promee]

15. Let's see...

- Notching a win for once.

- Fucking Obama.

- Fucking the people who supported Obama.

Whatever else is gravy.

[iluvtennis]

18. But leaving 32 Million ppl without healthcare is the major impact. Everything else is politics.

[Promee]

22. And if these people cared about that...

...this wouldn't be a political exercise.

But they don't.

[iluvtennis]

25. 32 million ppl are worth $12.50 each to the rethugs...

Link to tweet

[mopinko]

23. follow the money.

it's all about stripping spending so they can slash taxes on the 1%.

[WinkyDink]

28. Yes, donor money, and lots of it. Plus, he and wifey will benefit from any tax

cuts, here and in a future "reform" bill.

[Ligyron]

37. Mitch Mc Turtle is the one who destroyed participatory democracy.

No regular order evah anymore is the operating model.

The country is fucked if we don't somehow take back the Congress and if we ever do, we need to stop being nice or giving them any kind of chance to gain any power again period.

How many thousands of Americans have they killed with their wars and now this shit? They are murdering, treasonous bastards and should be treated as such.

[global1]

16. So Get On The Phones People And Call Collins.....nt

[drray23]

5. You know, thats one of the problems of federalism.

Senators are out to get the best deal for their states instead of considering the entire country. On top of that, some of these maneuvers smacks of legalized bribery. Essentially, the GOP is trying to buy a vote with taxpayer money.

[marybourg]

6. I thought the publicans were against

********************"PORK BARREL POLITICS"*****************************

[pnwmom]

7. Is this legal? What's the legal justification for singling those two states out?

[PoliticAverse]

10. "Is this legal?" - It isn't even that unusual when major important bills are passed...

it just isn't usually subject to such publicity.

Remember the controversy over the "Cornhusker Kickback" in an early draft of the ACA?

(See: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/82621-obama-healthcare-plan-nixes-ben-nelsons-cornhusker-kickback-deal )

[WinkyDink]

29. Who rules, makes the rules.

[Old Vet]

9. The Republicans are foaming at the mouth to push this motherfucker through......

Basicly balls to the walls for these guys, They all want to be Trumps hero. We all know what happens if anybody on the GOP side votes this down, Good grief trumps twitter will be on fire. IMO the repubs are willing to cheat, steal, bribe, Even threaten again to replace Obamacare. There dead serious this time.

[WinkyDink]

30. You omitted "kill."

[iluvtennis]

19. DESPICABLE politics. Hopefully Lisa will keep her eye on the ball for the good of many,

and not just Alaska

[videohead5]

32. So the ACA

Is good for Alaska but bad for everywhere else?

[Promee]

35. Yup.

So terrible they're trying to bribe her by letting her keep it.

[Borchkins]

36. She didn't like the result

for planned parenthood under the previous attempts. She won't like it here either. Hopefully, she votes no.

[Juliusseizure]

38. Don't see why McCain would vote for it

I know he's good friends with Graham, but he just made a dramatic thumbs down vote to the GOP/McConnell establishment followed by criticism over process. That was motivated by pride and disgust.

If he votes yes, he's just admitting he doesn't really that pride, he has no values or integrity. Just sucking up to the Kochs, and Trump can justifiably mock him. That'll be his legacy for his 83 years.

[Dem2theMax]

39. Contact Senator Murkowski.

I live in California. I just went to the Senator's website and she takes emails from ANY state, not just Alaska.

Here is her website; https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/home

It can't hurt to contact her about the bill. And it just might help.

[Man_Bear_Pig]

46. Pork barrel

[briv1016]

47. Wouldn't this invalidate the required CBO score due out tomorrow?