WEBVTT 00:01.933 --> 00:04.100 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: The latest Senate Republican push to replace the Affordable Care Act has 00:04.100 --> 00:05.700 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% come to nothing. 00:05.700 --> 00:08.566 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Now party leaders say they will try for just repeal. 00:08.566 --> 00:12.933 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% Lisa Desjardins begins our coverage of the past tumultuous 24 hours. 00:12.933 --> 00:14.966 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% SEN. 00:14.966 --> 00:17.233 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY), Majority Leader: I regret that the effort to repeal and immediately 00:17.233 --> 00:21.933 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% replace the failures of Obamacare will not be successful. 00:21.933 --> 00:26.633 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: A remarkable statement and a bitter admission for Senate Majority Leader 00:26.633 --> 00:31.633 align:left position:20%,start line:71% size:70% Mitch McConnell, that Republicans still can't muster the votes on a health care bill. 00:33.600 --> 00:36.766 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% It became clear last night, after Utah's Mike Lee and Jerry Moran of Kansas said they'd 00:37.733 --> 00:39.666 align:left position:30%,start line:83% size:60% vote against the revised version. 00:39.666 --> 00:42.900 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% With that, McConnell changed course, and decided to go for pure repeal. 00:42.900 --> 00:45.066 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% SEN. 00:45.066 --> 00:46.666 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% MITCH MCCONNELL: A majority of the Senate voted to pass the same repeal legislation 00:46.666 --> 00:48.466 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% back in 2015. 00:48.466 --> 00:51.133 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% President Obama vetoed it then. 00:51.133 --> 00:55.233 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% President Trump -- President Trump will sign it now. 00:55.233 --> 01:00.266 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: McConnell proposed delaying the effective date of repeal for two years, 01:01.400 --> 01:03.433 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% so both parties can work out a replacement. 01:03.433 --> 01:08.433 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% But, almost immediately, three Republicans came out as no's to McConnell's idea That's 01:09.433 --> 01:11.933 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% enough to kill it. 01:11.933 --> 01:15.733 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, and Susan Collins of Maine 01:15.733 --> 01:20.466 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% all said it is too risky to repeal without an immediate plan for what next. 01:20.466 --> 01:22.533 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% SEN. 01:22.533 --> 01:26.466 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% SUSAN COLLINS (R), Maine: I do not think it is going to be constructive to repeal a law 01:28.400 --> 01:32.266 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% that, at this point, is so interwoven in our health care system, and then hope that, over 01:35.066 --> 01:39.266 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% the next two years, we will come up with some kind of replacement. 01:39.266 --> 01:44.200 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: At the same time, Democrats are flexing their muscles against repeal. 01:44.200 --> 01:45.200 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% Minority Leader Chuck Schumer: 01:45.200 --> 01:47.400 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% SEN. 01:47.400 --> 01:51.200 align:left position:20%,start line:71% size:70% CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY), Minority Leader: Passing repeal now is not a door to bipartisan solutions, 01:52.400 --> 01:54.233 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% as the majority leader suggested this morning. 01:54.233 --> 01:57.133 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% Rather, it is a disaster. 01:57.133 --> 02:00.966 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% The door to bipartisanship is open right now. 02:00.966 --> 02:05.700 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Not with repeal, but with an effort to improve the existing system. 02:05.700 --> 02:10.200 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: Even though it seems certain to fail, Republican leaders said they're going 02:10.200 --> 02:13.166 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% to press forward and hold a vote some time soon. 02:13.166 --> 02:14.833 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% SEN. 02:14.833 --> 02:17.100 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% MITCH MCCONNELL: Well, I think we will have to see what happens. 02:17.100 --> 02:22.100 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% We will have demonstrated that Republicans by themselves are not prepared at this point 02:23.500 --> 02:25.200 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% to do a replacement. 02:25.200 --> 02:28.500 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States: We're not going own it. 02:28.500 --> 02:30.533 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% I'm not going to own it. 02:30.533 --> 02:32.633 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: At the White House, President Trump was left lamenting the latest health 02:32.633 --> 02:36.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% care failure, and insisting the fault lies elsewhere. 02:36.066 --> 02:40.733 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% DONALD TRUMP: For seven years, I have been hearing repeal and replace from Congress. 02:40.733 --> 02:42.733 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% And I have been hearing it loud and strong. 02:42.733 --> 02:46.800 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% And then, when we finally get a chance to repeal and replace, they don't take advantage 02:46.800 --> 02:48.900 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% of it. 02:48.900 --> 02:51.400 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% We will let Obamacare fail, and then the Democrats are going to come to us and they're going 02:51.400 --> 02:53.700 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% to say, how do we fix it, how do we fix it? 02:53.700 --> 02:58.700 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: As recently as yesterday, Mr. Trump sounded more confident, in a quick 02:59.600 --> 03:00.933 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% aside to Vice President Pence. 03:00.933 --> 03:03.600 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% DONALD TRUMP: We're getting it together. 03:03.600 --> 03:05.600 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% And it's going to happen, right, Mike? 03:05.600 --> 03:07.333 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% MIKE PENCE, Vice President of the United States: Yes, sir. 03:07.333 --> 03:08.333 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% DONALD TRUMP: I think. 03:08.333 --> 03:10.400 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% (APPLAUSE) 03:10.400 --> 03:13.433 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: Mr. Trump has repeatedly said he's willing to sign a repeal-only bill. 03:13.433 --> 03:17.933 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% The vice president, who spent much of the day on Capitol Hill, urged lawmakers to do 03:17.933 --> 03:19.166 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% something. 03:19.166 --> 03:21.633 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% MIKE PENCE: Inaction is not an option. 03:21.633 --> 03:23.833 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% Congress needs to step up. 03:23.833 --> 03:28.833 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Congress needs to do their job, and Congress needs to do their job now. 03:31.300 --> 03:33.933 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: House Speaker Paul Ryan sounded a similar note, and also said the House bill, 03:36.433 --> 03:39.000 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% which repeals and replaces Obamacare simultaneously, is still -- quote -- "the best way to go." 03:39.666 --> 03:41.733 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% REP. 03:41.733 --> 03:43.766 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% PAUL RYAN (R-WI), Speaker of the House: Well, we'd like to see the Senate move on something. 03:43.766 --> 03:46.333 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: And House Budget Committee Chair Diane Black joined the chorus urging 03:46.333 --> 03:47.333 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% the Senate to act. 03:47.333 --> 03:49.400 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% REP. 03:49.400 --> 03:50.333 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% DIANE BLACK (R), Tennessee: We're going to be eternally optimistic that the Senate is 03:50.333 --> 03:52.433 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% going to get their work done. 03:52.433 --> 03:56.533 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of 11 governors called for the Senate to reject 03:58.000 --> 04:00.666 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% efforts to repeal Obamacare now and replace it later. 04:00.666 --> 04:03.700 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% So, when we will see the next votes in the Senate? 04:03.700 --> 04:07.433 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Senator John Cornyn, the number two Republican in the Senate, told my colleague Ellis Kim 04:07.433 --> 04:11.033 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% (ph) and some other reporters tonight he expects that vote this week -- Judy. 04:11.033 --> 04:14.100 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: And, Lisa, from what you're reporting, it doesn't sound like they have 04:14.100 --> 04:17.433 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% the votes to pass repeal, so what are they going to do after that? 04:17.433 --> 04:19.500 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% LISA DESJARDINS: Right, it's fascinating. 04:19.500 --> 04:23.533 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% They're frantic to take a vote now that likely will fail and looks it like, Judy, after that, 04:25.533 --> 04:28.400 align:left position:20%,start line:71% size:70% they're ready for a 180-degree turn to move from this closed-door process they have had 04:28.400 --> 04:33.266 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% until now for the past seven months to a more open, public, kind of regular process that, 04:33.266 --> 04:36.100 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% as it's known here in the Senate, with committee hearings. 04:36.100 --> 04:40.533 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% Late tonight, the chairman of the Health Committee here in the Senate, Senator Alexander, announced 04:40.533 --> 04:45.133 align:left position:20%,start line:71% size:70% he does plan to holding open hearings on health care and stabilizing the markets, regardless 04:45.133 --> 04:47.166 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% of the vote. 04:47.166 --> 04:49.466 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% And, Judy, it's worth noting those three senators who are the no votes, who are essentially 04:49.466 --> 04:54.466 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% blocking this latest effort from Mr. McConnell, they're are all senators who were not included 04:55.333 --> 04:57.333 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% in the closed-door meetings. 04:57.333 --> 05:00.366 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Those female senators now saying they think it should have been open like this all along. 05:00.366 --> 05:04.833 align:left position:20%,start line:71% size:70% JUDY WOODRUFF: So, Lisa, this is a big hit for the Republicans in the Senate and the 05:04.833 --> 05:06.066 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% Congress overall. 05:06.066 --> 05:07.066 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% What are they saying to you? 05:07.066 --> 05:08.333 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% How do they feel about this? 05:08.333 --> 05:10.233 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% LISA DESJARDINS: They're very raw, Judy. 05:10.233 --> 05:13.200 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% One of them told me that they're just exhausted. 05:13.200 --> 05:17.133 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Another said today's meeting of all Republican senators was -- quote -- "robust." 05:17.133 --> 05:19.700 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% Translation of that, Judy, it was tense. 05:19.700 --> 05:22.966 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% There is some real fear about what this means for their elections next year. 05:22.966 --> 05:27.800 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% There are real questions about what it means to hold a vote that is likely to fail. 05:27.800 --> 05:29.033 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% Why are they doing that? 05:29.033 --> 05:31.066 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% Why does Mitch McConnell want to hold the vote? 05:31.066 --> 05:35.800 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Well, the theory is that he wants to show who is to blame for blocking their repeal 05:37.733 --> 05:40.700 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% efforts and to say they gave it their best try, but that idea could, of course, ricochet 05:40.700 --> 05:42.733 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% and harm some of their senators as well. 05:42.733 --> 05:46.433 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: So, what about Majority Leader McConnell? 05:46.433 --> 05:49.033 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% Is his standing secure after all this? 05:49.033 --> 05:52.633 align:left position:20%,start line:71% size:70% LISA DESJARDINS: Well, one senator, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, made an extraordinary statement 05:52.633 --> 05:57.033 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% today, saying he doesn't have confidence in Mitch McConnell anymore and doesn't trust 05:57.033 --> 05:58.033 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% his leadership. 05:58.033 --> 06:00.166 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% But, Judy, he was an exception. 06:00.166 --> 06:03.800 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Other senators, including Lisa Murkowski, told me they do have confidence in him. 06:03.800 --> 06:05.866 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% She gave a great quote today, Judy, to us. 06:05.866 --> 06:10.233 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% She said that Mitch McConnell is trying to keep the frogs in the wheelbarrow and doing 06:10.233 --> 06:12.300 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% as well as he can. 06:12.300 --> 06:15.866 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Fascinating, because she's one of the frogs that actually has jumped out of that wheelbarrow, 06:15.866 --> 06:20.500 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% but it looks like for now his leadership will stay and he will stay in power. 06:20.500 --> 06:23.100 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% JUDY WOODRUFF: I like the metaphor. 06:23.100 --> 06:26.233 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% Lisa, what does all this mean for health care? 06:26.233 --> 06:30.900 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Because the Republicans have run several plans up the flagpole. 06:30.900 --> 06:32.966 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% They haven't passed. 06:32.966 --> 06:33.966 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% Where do they stand? 06:33.966 --> 06:34.966 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% Where do we stand? 06:34.966 --> 06:36.866 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: That's right. 06:36.866 --> 06:38.300 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% This was the fifth draft, maybe the sixth draft, depending on how you count it this 06:38.300 --> 06:40.266 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% year. 06:40.266 --> 06:42.366 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Let's just get to some bottom lines for what we're doling with now as Americans. 06:42.366 --> 06:47.233 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% It looks like now the effort to have massive Medicaid reform, large-scale cuts in the numbers 06:48.866 --> 06:51.900 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% of Medicaid recipients in the future, that effort now seems dead. 06:51.900 --> 06:56.900 align:left position:20%,start line:71% size:70% However, the fate of the Medicaid expansion under Medicaid -- under the Obamacare, that 06:57.800 --> 06:59.066 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% is not clear. 06:59.066 --> 07:00.633 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% We will have to see what happens in negotiations. 07:00.633 --> 07:04.700 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% But, overall, Medicaid itself will largely stay as it is now. 07:04.700 --> 07:09.700 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Also, the idea of repealing Obamacare wholesale, that seems unlikely to happen. 07:11.633 --> 07:14.733 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% We will see what happens in the next vote but it seems most likely, Judy, that Obamacare 07:14.733 --> 07:19.733 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% will stay largely within the framework it has now and that the discussion will shift 07:21.300 --> 07:23.733 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% to how to fix it and how to stabilize markets within that framework. 07:23.733 --> 07:27.833 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: And this -- you and I were talking earlier, this will have an effect 07:27.833 --> 07:31.133 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% on the larger Republican leadership agenda as well. 07:31.133 --> 07:33.233 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% LISA DESJARDINS: Oh, a huge effect. 07:33.233 --> 07:37.466 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% They're hoping that it will not be catastrophic, but now they are jammed up against some very, 07:39.200 --> 07:41.666 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% very limited time on the calendar, Judy. 07:41.666 --> 07:45.133 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% And they have some must-do things like passing spending bills, which, as we know, is never 07:45.133 --> 07:50.133 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% easy, but also a debt ceiling limit that must be raised some time in the next few months. 07:51.700 --> 07:53.933 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% And in addition to that, they are trying to still pursue tax reform. 07:53.933 --> 07:57.400 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% That is a once-in-a-generation kind of achievement. 07:57.400 --> 08:01.600 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% They're trying to do it in this very kind of caustic, sharp environment with health 08:01.600 --> 08:03.633 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% care still waiting. 08:03.633 --> 08:07.633 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% And it's unclear about what of that will happen or when it can all happen, but Republicans 08:07.633 --> 08:09.700 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% say they're still going to try. 08:09.700 --> 08:13.433 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: And in just a few seconds, Lisa, you were also telling us today the Republicans 08:13.433 --> 08:15.400 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% in the House rolled out their budget. 08:15.400 --> 08:17.500 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% LISA DESJARDINS: Yes. 08:17.500 --> 08:19.466 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% This is something not to be missed and would be a headline probably in most other weeks, 08:19.466 --> 08:21.400 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% but that's right. 08:21.400 --> 08:24.433 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% This Republican budget document is just a starting step in spending process, but it's 08:24.433 --> 08:27.066 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% important, Judy because they're doing something very new this year. 08:27.066 --> 08:32.066 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% They are proposing cutting not just discretionary subjects, which are your usual government 08:34.100 --> 08:37.266 align:left position:20%,start line:71% size:70% agencies we talk about, education and so forth, but they want to cut mandatory programs as 08:38.000 --> 08:39.466 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% well in their budget. 08:39.466 --> 08:41.500 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Those are things like Social Security, Medicare, food stamps. 08:41.500 --> 08:46.033 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% They want to use those cuts in those mandatory programs to help things like the defense and 08:47.200 --> 08:48.400 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% also for tax cuts, so something to watch. 08:48.400 --> 08:50.733 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% JUDY WOODRUFF: It's a lot to watch. 08:50.733 --> 08:54.000 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% Lisa Desjardins, thank you for being our eyes and ears at the Capitol. 08:54.000 --> 08:54.500 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% We thank you.