Sign up for our daily briefing
Make your busy days simpler with Axios AM/PM. Catch up on what's new and why it matters in just 5 minutes.
Stay on top of the latest market trends
Subscribe to Axios Markets for the latest market trends and economic insights. Sign up for free.
Sports news worthy of your time
Binge on the stats and stories that drive the sports world with Axios Sports. Sign up for free.
Tech news worthy of your time
Get our smart take on technology from the Valley and D.C. with Axios Login. Sign up for free.
Get the inside stories
Get an insider's guide to the new White House with Axios Sneak Peek. Sign up for free.
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Want a daily digest of the top Denver news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Denver
Want a daily digest of the top Des Moines news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Des Moines
Want a daily digest of the top Twin Cities news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Twin Cities
Want a daily digest of the top Tampa Bay news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Tampa Bay
Want a daily digest of the top Charlotte news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Charlotte
I was all set to give you an in-depth look at all of the health care bills Republicans are lining up for "Phase 3" of Obamacare replacement — all the proposals they can't put in the budget "reconciliation" bill.
There are substantive reasons to learn about the pros and cons and all of them. But here's the problem: All of them might be able to pass the House pretty easily, but then they'd all need Democratic votes to pass the Senate, since they'd need 60 votes.
Here's the list so far:
- Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act of 2017 — eliminating the antitrust protection for insurance providers (House voting this week)
- Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2017 — association health plans (House voting this week)
- Medical malpractice reform (later this month)
- Protecting self-insurance (later this month)
- Selling health insurance across state lines (House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing coming soon)
So I asked around about whether any of them could get enough Democratic votes, and here's what a Senate Democratic leadership aide told me: "No they will not. We are happy to work with Republicans to improve health care but they have to drop repeal first. If they manage to pass a repeal bill, they're on their own. There won't be a phase 3."
Sen. Ted Cruz actually laughed at the idea on CBS's "Face the Nation" yesterday when John Dickerson asked him about it. "That ain't going to happen," Cruz said, calling it "the sucker's bucket." So, moving along ....