Chances of Passing Any Bipartisan Healthcare Solutions Are Fading Fast
As the Congress returned from summer recess, it seemed that there was still some hope of Democrats, Republicans and the President coming to some kind of consensus on healthcare legislation. However, that chance seems to be fading fast, as time is short, and talks of impeachment, and divisive rhetoric on both sides heats up again.
A bipartisan group of senators has gotten back to work on bills that went through committee before the summer recess. These proposed bills address the high cost of prescription drugs for seniors and have provisions to curb massive unexpected medical bills patients get after they leave the hospital.
If the bills pass, they would provide members of Congress with evidence to present to voters ahead of the 2020 election that they were able to log bipartisan victories. On the other hand, as 2020 looms, Democrats may not wish to hand over anything that will allow Trump to take a victory lap. The White House has said that lowering healthcare costs is a priority.
“The time is certainly now for action — this is the window,” a senior GOP congressional aide said in an email that was obtained by the press.
But Congress is likely to struggle to find time to pass the legislation in the fall, with just three weeks of work in September before yet another break.
An Already Loaded Agenda That Could Shelve Healthcare
House leaders want to vote on temporary spending bills in September, and Democrats are pressuring Republicans to pass gun-control measures after a string of mass shooting this summer. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer did not list high healthcare costs in a letter he sent to senators about the priorities for the chamber. He instead cited gun control and election security, among other issues.
As far as healthcare goes, passage of any significant legislation faces the same old roadblocks. Democrats want to work with Republicans to “fix” what is wrong with Obamacare, and The GOP and the President are doing everything they can to destroy the failing Affordable Care Act. The Trump administration has sided with state GOP officials in a lawsuit that threatens to invalidate the healthcare law, a stance that a senior House Democratic aide confirmed would be a “major focus” of criticism for the caucus.
So, all of this means that any substantial healthcare legislation will not occur before the end of the year, and by the time 2020 rolls around, it will be the focus of election politics, and become the key issue in the upcoming presidential election, where the America people will have to decide which party can fix a broken and dysfunctional healthcare system.
I JUST don’t ‘GET IT’!!!!!
‘OBAMACARE’ (FIXED) our ‘HEALTHCARE SYSTEM’!!!!!
Why are the ‘DEM’ Candidates Debating HEALCARE????
Why are there all of these Bills in Congress?????
OBAMACARE was ‘the SOLUTION’!!!!!!!!!