The “discussion draft” of the GOP’s American Health Care Act, released earlier today, received neutral-to-negative responses from GOP moderates and conservatives alike.
Senators Ron Johnson (R-WI), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Rand Paul (R-KY), posted a joint statement shortly after the bill’s release indicating that they weren’t ready to support the bill as written. “[It] does not appear this draft as written will accomplish the most important promise that we made to Americans: to repeal Obamacare and lower their healthcare costs,” reads the statement in part. Johnson said he was “not a ‘yes’” on the bill.
GOP Sen. Ron Johnson speaking to reporters outside Capitol: "I am not a 'yes.'" Says GOP /Dems should start over on bipartisan health bill.
— Teddy Davis (@TeddyDavisCNN) June 22, 2017
Cruz released a lengthier statement on his own website immediately afterward, saying of the bill, “[There] are components that give me encouragement and there are also components that are a cause for deep concern.” Cruz’s concerns included the bill not going far enough to repeal the Affordable Care Act, not lowering premiums, and not giving Medicaid enough “flexibility.” He added later that the bill would need “significant changes” before passing the Senate.
.@tedcruz just now. "This current draft doesn't get the job done." Said he & others expect "significant changes" to draft
— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) June 22, 2017
He seems to believe the bill can be fixed, however, as he handed out pamphlets on how it could “get to ‘yes’” during a Senate lunch.
Sen. Ted Cruz handed these out today in Senate lunch. How he can get to yes. pic.twitter.com/WYeQYxbcLe
— Lauren Fox (@FoxReports) June 22, 2017
Moderate senators also withheld their support. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) took issue with the bill, telling reporters that they both disagreed with sections of it that would defund Planned Parenthood. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Dean Heller (R-NV) both said they had “concerns” about the policies presented in the draft. “If the final legislation is good for Ohio, I will support it,” said Portman in a statement released Thursday. “If not, I will oppose it.”
Just asked Murkowski about defunding @PPFA.
"I support Planned Parenthood."
The bill defunds it for a year.
"I do not support defunding."
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) June 22, 2017
Susan Collins says she opposes health bill language defunding Planned Parenthood, calling it "unfair and short-sighted" and "just wrong."
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) June 22, 2017
Susan Collins stops short of calling Planned Parenthood defunding language a dealbreaker for her, saying she and Murkowski want it removed.
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) June 22, 2017
My statement on the U.S. Senate's draft health care reform bill: https://t.co/YiQLfRJutB
— Dean Heller (@SenDeanHeller) June 22, 2017
Some GOP senators refrained from giving an opinion, only making vague condemnations of the ACA and suggesting that they would review the bill closely. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) posted a statement on his website where he denounced the ACA without saying anything about the AHCA draft, other than that he would be “studying it” and “ looking at the ways it would help Iowans affected by Obamacare’s failures.” Others who took a similar stance included John McCain (R-AZ), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Shelley Capito (R-WV), who said in a press release that she would examine the bill to see “whether it provides access to affordable health care for West Virginians, including those on the Medicaid expansion and those struggling with drug addiction.” (Odds are, it doesn’t.)
Closely reviewing Senate healthcare plan – any bill must ensure Arizonans have access to affordable & flexible care https://t.co/E4Yj1GJNXk
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) June 22, 2017
.@marcorubio withholds support for health bill, says he wants to study FL impacts, invites state leaders to weigh in https://t.co/Id4bLBhoia
— Alex Leary (@learyreports) June 22, 2017
My statement on the Senate #healthcare draft. https://t.co/4yGW8CUV4x pic.twitter.com/Er1sXazdTL
— Senator Thom Tillis (@SenThomTillis) June 22, 2017
My statement on the Senate health care discussion draft: https://t.co/hlC90OCrSo
— Shelley Moore Capito (@SenCapito) June 22, 2017
Despite all this trepidation, some Republican senators gave their outspoken support for the bill. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) spent the afternoon apparently trying to get the hashtag #BetterCare trending in reference to the bill. Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) called it “the best possible bill under very difficult circumstances.” Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) released a statement with a long, detailed list of bullet points emphasizing what he saw as the “benefits for Tennesseans” in the bill, although he did also pledge to “continue to review” the draft.
#Obamacare has been a disaster from day one. It's time that Americans received #BetterCare. https://t.co/M1mEJGTZW6
— Leader McConnell (@SenateMajLdr) June 22, 2017
My statement on the discussion draft of the Senate health care bill. Read here: https://t.co/cpchhzoDMx #BetterCare pic.twitter.com/AhcCJGJe8U
— Pat Roberts (@SenPatRoberts) June 22, 2017
Outside of Congress, moderate Republicans gave the bill harsher reviews than their Senate compatriots. Governor John Kasich (R-OH) said he had “deep concerns” about the bill and its minimal coverage. He added, “sustainable solutions to the many complex problems facing our health care system will never be solved with a one-party approach that’s developed behind closed doors, without public discussion and input.” Governor Charlie Baker (R-MA) also expressed his concerns.
Gov. John Kasich on the U.S. Senate’s health care system proposal:#HealthcareBill pic.twitter.com/pT2IijXcFx
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) June 22, 2017
While Republicans have mixed opinions on the bill, Democrats don’t: not a single Democratic senator supports it.
Annabel Thompson is an intern with ThinkProgress.