Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman)

Earlier articles explained it’s not a healthcare plan. It deceptively claims to be what it’s not.

Combined with Trump’s tax cut scheme, it’s a colossal scam to transfer trillions more dollars of wealth than already from most Americans to business and high net-worth households.

Four GOP senators along with 48 undemocratic Democrats rejected the so-called Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 (BCRA), preventing Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell from getting a floor vote he sought.

The GOP plan to repeal and replace Obamacare is dead in its current form. So is repeal alone as things now stand.

Three Republican senators oppose it, a fourth strongly leaning that way - along with all 48 Dems. Fifty votes are needed as well as Vice President Pence’s tie-breaker for Senate passage of any healthcare measure.

As of now, enough support is lacking. Trumpcare in any Senate form is close to demise. In response to the latest developments, Trump tweeted “let Obamacare fail and then come together and do a great healthcare plan. Stay tuned.”

Saying “Dems totally obstruct (with) no votes,” he failed to lay blame where it belongs - on both parties for failing to draft an equitable plan most Americans want and support, what everyone deserves - universal coverage, everyone on a level playing field, providing a fundamental human right to all US citizens and residents.

Nothing less is acceptable. Bipartisan opposition prevents it. McConnell isn’t quitting, saying “(w)e will now try a different way to bring the American people relief from Obamacare.”

A different shade of lipstick on what he has in mind won’t change the unacceptability of what both parties support - the opposite of what’s badly needed.

He’ll seek a floor vote on a measure similar to what Obama vetoed in January 2016, saying it’ll “repeal Obamacare combined with a stable, two-year-transition period.” There’s no such thing, he failed to explain.

A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) score showed the earlier Senate plan would leave 18 million more uninsured in the first year, 32 million without coverage in 10 years - compared to Obamacare.

Premiums would skyrocket - at least 20% in the first year, rates doubling in 10 years. The measure would eliminate Medicaid’s expansion, along with subsidies to buy private insurance.

It would prohibit increasing premiums for individuals with pre-existing conditions. It’s unclear if there’s enough GOP support for this scheme or any other without bipartisan input - entirely lacking now.

AMA president David Barbe urged bipartisan cooperation to produce a publicly acceptable plan. The status quo isn’t working, he said.

What’s ahead is uncertain except for one thing. BCRA hasn’t enough support to pass. Without bipartisan input, significantly reworking what Republicans proposed, it’s doubtful if Trumpcare can be enacted.

Hold the cheers. Devious Republicans aren’t about to throw in the towel easily.

They’ll keep beating what’s now a dead horse, trying to breathe life back into it in some form.

The best way to stop them is by sustained mass grassroots opposition. There’s plenty of it out there. It’s essential to maintain committed pressure for vitally needed equitable healthcare for all - accepting nothing less.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

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