The Latest: Big doctors group against GOP repeal effort
The American Medical Association is opposed to the latest, last-ditch Republican effort to dismantle Obamacare.
That's the word Tuesday from the largest association of physicians. In a letter to Senate leaders, the AMA says the Senate should reject any bill that would jeopardize health insurance for tens of millions of Americans. The organization said Congress should focus on measures to stabilize health insurance markets.
The group says the proposal from Sens. Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy violates the precept of "first do no harm." The AMA expressed concern that repeal of Medicaid expansion and temporary block grants through 2026 would result in tens of millions of people losing coverage.
Senate GOP leaders are trying to round up support for the legislation and vote before end of the month.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is telling colleagues that she wants "all hands on deck" to defeat the latest Republican effort to undo the Affordable Care Act.
Pelosi calls the bill a moral monstrosity. The Senate bill relies on sending block grants to the states to provide health coverage.
Pelosi says members are encouraged to participate in what she called a tweet storm against "Trumpcare" Tuesday afternoon from noon to 2 p.m.
She is also urging members in "this emergency request" to schedule town hall meetings and press conferences to speak out against the legislation. Senate Republicans must pass the measure by Sept. 30 to avoid a Democratic filibuster.
Pelosi says House Democrats will fully mobilize to lift up the voices of families who would be devastated by the legislation.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is praising a last-ditch Republican bill to repeal and replace "Obamacare" - the latest sign the GOP's repeal effort may be back from the dead.
McConnell calls the bill by Sens. Bill Cassidy and Lindsey Graham "an intriguing idea, and one that has a great deal of support."
The bill would undo major elements of Barack Obama's health care law and send block grants to the states instead. The Senate must act on the bill by Sept. 30 - or face a certain Democratic filibuster.
McConnell says the GOP's ability to repeal the law after years of promises "may well pass us by if we don't act."
Top Senate Republicans say their last-ditch push to uproot President Barack Obama's health care law is gaining momentum.
But the GOP has less than two weeks to succeed. And it still faces a tough fight to win enough rank-and-file support to overcome Democratic opposition and reverse the summer's self-inflicted defeat on the issue.
Republicans commanding the Senate 52-48 would lose if just three GOP senators are opposed.
That proved a bridge too far in July. Three attempts for passage of similar measures fell short and delivered an embarrassing defeat to President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
McConnell has said he'd not bring another alternative to the Senate floor unless he knew he had the 50 votes needed. Vice President Mike Pence would cast the tie-breaking vote.
