President Trump threatened both lawmakers and the insurance market on Saturday, warning their “bailouts” will end “very soon” if Congress don’t pass a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare.
“If a new HealthCare Bill is not approved quickly, BAILOUTS for Insurance Companies and BAILOUTS for Members of Congress will end very soon!..” Trump tweeted on Saturday.
If a new HealthCare Bill is not approved quickly, BAILOUTS for Insurance Companies and BAILOUTS for Members of Congress will end very soon!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2017
The “bailout” for insurance companies may be in reference to cost-sharing reduction subsidies, which Trump has previously indicated he wanted to cut as a negotiating tactic to bring Democrats to the table on healthcare reform. The administration has been paying the funds each month, including for July, while waiting for congressional progress on repealing and replacing portions of Obamacare.
The second part of his tweet appears to be threatening an elimination of subsidized healthcare for members of Congress.
Earlier Saturday morning Trump sent out a flood of tweets pressing Senate Republicans to go “nuclear” for legislation, which means bypassing the 60-vote threshold for filibusters. That followed the Republicans’ failure this week to make progress on their effort to pass legislation that would work towards dismantling Obamacare. Trump said
Trump’s challenged the Senate GOP to “step up to the plate,” follow through with their “promise,” and assured his followers there will be “repercussions” for those who don’t.
Republicans have a last chance to do the right thing on Repeal & Replace after years of talking & campaigning on it.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 24, 2017
