Ten Republican and Democratic governors are opposing a last-minute attempt to overhaul Obamacare.
The governors sent a letter to Senate leaders calling for them not to consider an overhaul bill that would give Obamacare funding to states through block grants and would eliminate the law’s individual and employer mandates. Republicans are pushing for a vote on the bill, saying it is their last shot at repealing Obamacare.
The governors slammed the process Republicans are using to bring forward the bill, which was released last week.
“Legislation should receive consideration under regular order, including hearings in health committees and input from the appropriate health-related parties,” the governors wrote.
Alaska Gov. Bill Walker, an independent, Republican Govs. Brian Sandoval of Nevada, John Kasich of Ohio, Phil Scott of Vermont, Charles Baker of Massachusetts, and Democratic Govs. John Hickenlooper of Colorado, Steve Bullock of Montana, Terry MacAuliffe of Virginia, Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania and John Bel Edwards of Louisiana signed the letter.
Republican Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland also announced his opposition to the bill Tuesday.
The opposition, especially from Republican governors, undercuts a key argument from the bill’s sponsors that Republican governors are more amenable to this bill than prior Obamacare repeal efforts. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said last week that 14 Republican governors support the bill.
The Senate Finance Committee has scheduled a hearing on the bill on Monday, and on Tuesday the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee will hold a hearing. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., one of the bill’s four co-sponsors, is chairman of the homeland security committee.
Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., is another one of the bill’s co-sponsors.
But the opposition from key governors could hinder the last shot at repeal, especially the opposition of Walker.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, remains undecided on the bill and said she has been concerned about the impact of funding cuts to her state.
The governors called for Senate leadership to instead take up a bipartisan agreement to stabilize Obamacare’s exchanges. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., the top Republican spearheading the bipartisan talks, said Tuesday that the push for Obamacare repeal and some Democrats embracing single payer are imperiling the effort.
