The Senate GOP's weekly press conference focused on — what else? — the Graham-Cassidy plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Sens. Lindsey Graham, who said he's "never felt better about where we're at," and Bill Cassidy were along to answer questions regarding the state of play.
The big argument: Graham framed his health care plan as the only thing standing in the way of the United States' eventual move to a single-payer system (he didn’t explain why). "Here's the choice for America: socialism or federalism when it comes to your health care,” he said.
Paul Ryan and the White House have told Senate Republicans they won't support a bipartisan plan to make urgent fixes to the Affordable Care Act, Politico reports. Instead, they're all in on the McConnell-endorsed Graham-Cassidy bill, a last-ditch effort to repeal the ACA by a Sept. 30 deadline.
What they're saying: Politico cites some Republicans who said the talks between Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA) won't offer enough for conservatives and are unlikely to produce legislation that can pass. Meanwhile, a senior WH official told Politico that "there was never much interest in the Murray-Alexander talks" anyway.
"Graham-Cassidy is the best path forward to repeal and replace Obamacare... Congress has 12 days to say 'yes' to Graham Cassidy. It's time for them to get the job done."
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was one of three senators to vote "no" on the last repeal bill. But earlier today, McCain said he'd back the Graham-Cassidy bill if Ducey signed off on it.
Why it matters: This bill would restructure the U.S. health care system even more dramatically than the repeal-and-replace bills that preceded it. If McCain gets on board, Republicans are likely just one vote shy of passing it. The focus now will fall on Sens. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Rand Paul.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said Saturday that "Bernie-Care" is coming, and urged Americans concerned about the Affordable Care Act to call up their senators and congressmen to vote for the repeal bill he and Sen. Bill Cassidy have sponsored. Graham described that bill described as "Bernie Sanders' worst nightmare." More from Graham's radio interview with Breitbart:
Americans will either repeal the ACA or be stuck with Bernie-Care, which Graham calls "full-blown single-payer socialism."
On the Republicans considering voting "no": "If you're not for this, then you really got to wonder whether or not you're a Republican."
His bottom line: "This is not about repealing and replacing Obamacare. This is about stopping a march towards socialism... this is the last best chance we will have to act and end Obamacare and stop Bernie-Care."
Data: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities analysis; Cartogram: Andrew Witherspoon / Axios; Correction: A previous version of this cartogram contained a key that understated the extent of some states' losses.
