Collins lets McConnell slide on promise to shore up insurance markets in 2017

[DonViejo]

Source: The Hill


BY ALEXANDER BOLTON - 12/20/17 01:33 PM EST

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), in the face of staunch GOP opposition, is letting Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) slide away from his promise to pass legislation stabilizing health insurance premiums before year’s end.

Collins previously said she had an "iron-clad" commitment to get it done before the new year but with Congress set to recess in a few days, time is running out.

The proposal to pass legislation subsidizing insurance companies to soften the blow of repealing ObamaCare’s individual mandate ran into stiff opposition from House conservatives, who insisted on anti-abortion language.

Collins acknowledged on Wednesday that McConnell and Vice President Mike Pence won’t be able to keep their promise to enact the insurance stabilization legislation in exchange for vote for tax reform. She and Senate Health Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said in a statement Wednesday that they will introduce the insurance market stabilization proposal “after the first of the year when the Senate will consider the omnibus spending bill” and other priorities such as reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program and funding for community health centers.


Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/365822-collins-lets-mcconnell-slide-on-promise-to-shore-up-insurance-markets-in-2017

---

Senate GOP pushes off ObamaCare bills until January

BY JORDAIN CARNEY - 12/20/17 01:30 PM EST

enate Republicans are punting two ObamaCare bills into next year as lawmakers scramble to avoid a government shutdown.

GOP Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lamar Alexander (Tenn.) said they have asked Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to not bring the bills up this week.

“Rather than considering a broad year-end funding agreement as we expected, it has become clear that Congress will only be able to pass another short-term extension to prevent a government shutdown and to continue a few essential programs. For this reason, we have asked Senator McConnell not to offer this week our legislation," they said in a joint statement.

Collins and Alexander said the ObamaCare legislation could wait until the Senate considers a slate of must-pass bills, including a full-year funding deal, in January.

more
http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/365820-senate-gop-pushes-off-obamacare-bills-until-january

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. Premeditated murders

[riversedge]

2. crap it all!!

[Irish_Dem]

3. Shameful and a disgrace. nt

[calimary]

11. Um... was anybody REALLY expecting something different?

Seriously?

[Irish_Dem]

16. No, I remember the evils from Bush/Cheney, Reagan and Nixon, etc.

It still does not make what they are doing now any less shameful.

[hlthe2b]

4. So, it wasn't 'sexist' criticism of her tax stance--she was just a wilful fool.

Damn, Maine. She may look "good" still compared to your jackass Governor, but that comparison difference is narrowing

[NastyRiffraff]

5. I was talking about Collins to a friend just 10 minutes ago!

Before I saw this I told him just wait, McConnell will NOT keep his promise.

She's been played, and no, that's not "sexist."

[old guy]

6. What a rube she is!

I'm kinda embarrassed for her. Oh, wait , no I'm not.

[exboyfil]

7. Collins just assured herself of being whipsawed

No one will remember were "principled" stand to not repeal the ACA. Too bad we will have to wait until 2020.

[okwmember]

8. Sure Susan,

but we're all sexist for calling you on your bullshit!

How about I not be sexist and call you along with all your R colleagues douchebags.

[MiniMe]

9. We told you so Susan

[lark]

10. Lying Repug piece of trash.

There is no such thing as a good Repug legislator, not a single ione. Every one of them only care about the rich and everything they promise us is just a lie. Collins is a total liar and fraud. I hope the people of Maine get rid of her and replace her with a Dem vs. a worker killing repug.

[DDySiegs]

22. There is another possibility. Wait, No there isnt!!

Either (1) the senator from Maine has been lying and she knew all along that no such fixes would be made, or (2) she is completely and utterly stupid and clueless. No! Only no. 1 applies to her. She, like Corker, is a Liar!! Calling her a dupe is to let her off leniantly, way, way too leniantly.

[DownriverDem]

12. In less than 2 weeks

it goes into affect. Good God.

[dsc]

13. I am so stunned

no of course I am not. What a load of crap.

[atreides1]

14. Surprise...

Collins is a dupe and inept...hopefully her constituents in Maine replace her!!!

[cstanleytech]

25. No, she knew exactly what she was doing with her vote on this but hopefully

the people of her state will hold her accountable and replace her.

[Horizens]

15. Fool or Liar

If she believed McConnell, she's a fool. If she didn't believe him, she's a liar. There's no in between.
I've called two of her offices and told them exactly that. Let her know what you think.

Hey, no one is more upset amity the tax scam than I. But there's all too much defeatism here. Dedicate yourself to doing everything possible too, at least, gain the house next November.

[Freethinker65]

21. Liar as always

[Wellstone ruled]

17. So the Fix is in.

Give the Politicians a couple of weeks for the dust to settle,and then slash the crap out of the Social Safety Net next year. I posted this before. Hatch will not let funding happen for Children's Health Care,he has stated that.

The Koch Brothers are driving this Train and there is a Wreck about to happen .

[disndat]

24. The Koch Bros. Hedge fund zillionaire, Robert Mercer, and Rupert Murdoch

own this country. They found the perfect enabler, Trump.

[Augiedog]

18. Big surprise she got played and punked by a turtle.

[Soxfan58]

19. Did she get played

Or did the people of the great state of maine? I have voted for her in the past, but this bush league mistake will make sure I will not be again. All the grand standing she did after her healthcare vote makes me sick.

[disndat]

26. Collins let herself be played

Someone said she was promised support for the governorship down the road.

[Freethinker65]

20. And a big old FU to her constituents. Are you listening Maine?

[NCjack]

23. Sen. Collins, do you hear that noise from Sen. McConnell's office? They're "larfing" at you.

McConnell's larfing was likely so intense that he vomited into his mouth and forced it into his nostrils, and his chief of staff had to use his own mouth to vacuum aspirate McConnell's head.

Time for Sen. Collins to own the situation. She is much too naive to play games with McConnell and Ryan.

A dishonorable resignation is appropriate.

[BillyBobBrilliant]

27. Apparently, all f these Ayn

Rand Objectivists went right for the unjust 'Atlas Shrugged', and did not bother to learn the lesson of 'integrity' within the pages of 'The Fountainhead'. Geez Louise! they are just books.

[pnwmom]

28. Last night Susan accused people of being "sexist" who disbelieved the "deal" she's made

with McConnell.

[Me.]

29. What A Fool

and now the entire world sees it......

[3catwoman3]

30. The only "iron clad" thing you can count on from...

...Republicans is that they will screw you over any chance they get.

[TryLogic]

31. 1. She was a fool to trust a Republican 2. It's time for her to go

[Skittles]

32. she was not fooled by them - she is complicit

she is a REPUBLICAN

[moonscape]

33. Shocked

[ananda]

34. I never liked Collins.

Such a smarmy shithead.