Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) sent a letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) Wednesday outlining the changes he’d like to see to the Senate health care bill to earn his vote. His requests are a whole-scale remodeling of the main framework of the bill, making his vote among the toughest for GOP leaders to win.
His letter takes issue with the Obamacare-like tax credits for individual insurance the Republican bill offers, the “stabilization” funding it carves out for insurers and the continuous coverage requirement it imposes in the place of Obamacare individual mandate. He also requests a further loosening of federal insurance regulations, with a particular focus on the opportunity for consumers to form their own small group plans.
Read the letter below:
Think Progress headline from two years ago:
“Rand Paul’s Favorite Philosophers Think Poor People Are ‘Parasites’”
Paul votes yes. He has now provided himself cover that he was against it, and had his own plan. Now when the time to vote actually comes, Paul can hold his nose and do what he was going to do all along.
Are you suggesting we postpone the victory celebration?
Big deal. McConnell is between the proverbial rock and the hard place. If he placates Rand and the conservatives, he pushes the moderates away. And vice versa. Paul just wants to be on TV.
Nothing but a GOP civil war brewing, folks.
The further Paul tries to make things more draconian to please the Conservitards, the more resistance the so-called “moderate” GOP Senator’s will have.
It’s a thing of beauty, really…