WEBVTT 00:01.666 --> 00:04.933 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% JUDY WOODRUFF: It is the Senate Republican health care bill version 2.0. 00:04.933 --> 00:09.933 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Party leaders made it public today, but the path to passage remained anything but clear. 00:11.133 --> 00:12.400 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% Our Lisa Desjardins begins our coverage. 00:12.400 --> 00:14.366 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% SEN. 00:14.366 --> 00:16.266 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY), Majority Leader: So, it's time to rise to the occasion. 00:16.266 --> 00:19.066 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: A critical moment for health care and Congress. 00:19.066 --> 00:24.066 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Majority Leader Mitch McConnell unveiled Senate Republicans' second-draft bill, hoping it 00:25.233 --> 00:26.500 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% can win the minimum 50 votes he needs. 00:26.500 --> 00:28.566 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% SEN. 00:28.566 --> 00:31.400 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% MITCH MCCONNELL: The revised draft improves on the previous version in a number of ways, 00:31.400 --> 00:36.400 align:left position:20%,start line:71% size:70% all while retaining the fundamental goals of providing stability and improving affordability. 00:37.600 --> 00:39.033 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% LISA DESJARDINS: What has changed? 00:39.033 --> 00:42.533 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% First, it keeps two Obamacare taxes on the wealthy. 00:42.533 --> 00:47.533 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Second, it uses that money, in part, to add more than over $100 billion in new spending; 00:49.500 --> 00:53.833 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% $70 billion would go to insurers to stabilize markets and bring down out-of-pocket costs, 00:55.266 --> 00:58.000 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and $45 billion would fight the opioid epidemic. 00:58.000 --> 01:03.000 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% On Medicaid, the bill still cuts future spending significantly, but does give states more leeway 01:04.433 --> 01:07.966 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% to expand who is eligible for the program. 01:07.966 --> 01:12.966 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% But perhaps the biggest change is the addition of a proposal by Texas Senator Ted Cruz. 01:15.000 --> 01:18.566 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% The so-called Cruz amendment would let insurers mostly opt out of all Affordable Care Act 01:19.566 --> 01:21.666 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% requirements. 01:21.666 --> 01:25.566 align:left position:20%,start line:71% size:70% They could potentially offer cheaper bare-bones plans, as long as they offer a few plans that 01:26.433 --> 01:29.066 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% do meet Obamacare standards. 01:29.066 --> 01:31.866 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% At the same time, other Republicans are crafting their own ideas. 01:31.866 --> 01:33.400 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% SEN. 01:33.400 --> 01:35.433 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), South Carolina: Well, you know. 01:35.433 --> 01:37.166 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% We're going to support Mitch's effort with his new plan, but we want an alternative, 01:37.166 --> 01:39.833 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and we're going to see which one can get 50 votes. 01:39.833 --> 01:41.033 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% We're not undercutting Mitch. 01:41.033 --> 01:43.066 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% He's not undercutting us. 01:43.066 --> 01:46.666 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: Senators Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana 01:46.666 --> 01:50.566 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% say their amendment would send more money directly to states. 01:50.566 --> 01:53.166 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% It's not clear how much support that has. 01:53.166 --> 01:54.166 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% As for Democrats: 01:54.166 --> 01:56.233 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% SEN. 01:56.233 --> 01:57.900 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY), Minority Leader: It appears that little has changed at the core 01:57.900 --> 01:59.933 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% of the bill. 01:59.933 --> 02:03.233 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says Republicans will still have a problem 02:03.233 --> 02:05.966 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% getting some key members of their own party on board. 02:05.966 --> 02:07.933 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% SEN. 02:07.933 --> 02:10.900 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% CHUCK SCHUMER: Moderate Republicans looking at this bill should be able to see that the 02:10.900 --> 02:15.900 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% incredibly modest change to the tax provisions, the small pot of funding for opioid abuse 02:17.866 --> 02:22.300 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% treatment, these other tweaks around the edges are like a drop in the bucket, compared to 02:24.166 --> 02:29.066 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% what the bill does to Medicaid, to seniors, to Americans with preexisting conditions. 02:31.033 --> 02:34.933 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: All sides are now waiting for a pivotal report, the analysis of the 02:34.933 --> 02:37.866 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% bill by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. 02:37.866 --> 02:40.433 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Especially waiting is Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, a key vote. 02:40.433 --> 02:41.800 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% SEN. 02:41.800 --> 02:43.733 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% RON JOHNSON (R), Wisconsin: Show me your math. 02:43.733 --> 02:45.833 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% Show me what the first baseline was. 02:45.833 --> 02:48.733 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Show me what the policy results in terms of spending. 02:48.733 --> 02:52.900 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: Republicans have not yet announced when they will hold a vote. 02:52.900 --> 02:55.433 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% Leaders had hoped for next week. 02:55.433 --> 02:59.933 align:left position:20%,start line:71% size:70% And of the 52 Senate Republicans, we already know that two of them are no-votes on this 02:59.933 --> 03:01.466 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% latest draft. 03:01.466 --> 03:03.966 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% That's Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky. 03:03.966 --> 03:08.266 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Judy, of course, that means Mitch McConnell cannot lose any more Republicans, and there 03:08.266 --> 03:09.400 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% are many on the fence. 03:09.400 --> 03:10.733 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% JUDY WOODRUFF: Wow. 03:10.733 --> 03:11.766 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% So, Lisa, thank you. 03:11.766 --> 03:13.766 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% And, of course, stay here. 03:13.766 --> 03:17.266 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% We're going to bring in Julie Rovner, who we know well, chief correspondent, Washington 03:17.266 --> 03:20.333 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% correspondent, for Kaiser Health News, joining us too. 03:20.333 --> 03:22.266 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% I'm going to start with you, Julie. 03:22.266 --> 03:27.133 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% So, there have been some changes, as Lisa just reported, to Medicaid, a few, but not 03:28.300 --> 03:30.233 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% enough to satisfy these moderates. 03:30.233 --> 03:31.666 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% What exactly did they do? 03:31.666 --> 03:33.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% JULIE ROVNER, Kaiser Health News: That's right. 03:33.066 --> 03:35.133 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% The moderates have been unhappy with the Medicaid cuts. 03:35.133 --> 03:39.766 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Senator Susan Collins, who, as we just heard, is already a no, came out and said, the changes 03:39.766 --> 03:43.000 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% that they would make to Medicaid go beyond repealing the Affordable Care Act. 03:43.000 --> 03:47.300 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Medicaid was expanded in the Affordable Care Act, but these changes would actually cap 03:47.300 --> 03:50.933 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% the program, something Republicans have been trying to do since the 1980s. 03:50.933 --> 03:52.566 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% It's for the conservatives. 03:52.566 --> 03:54.733 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% Moderates are still unhappy. 03:54.733 --> 03:58.233 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% As Lisa pointed out, there is a little bit more money to deal with opioid abuse. 03:58.233 --> 04:01.100 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% They can get out of the caps if there's a public health emergency. 04:01.100 --> 04:03.333 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% But those are pretty much all the changes that they have made here. 04:03.333 --> 04:05.266 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: And how is all this going over, Lisa? 04:05.266 --> 04:06.633 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% LISA DESJARDINS: Right. 04:06.633 --> 04:08.733 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% There are a lot of big question marks on Capitol Hill. 04:08.733 --> 04:12.166 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% I think that you have got the same question marks on the right and the left. 04:12.166 --> 04:16.933 align:left position:20%,start line:71% size:70% They tried to bring in moderates, and including giving them the ability to increase -- the 04:16.933 --> 04:19.566 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% states could increase who can be under Medicaid. 04:19.566 --> 04:23.066 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% But there's not as much money to do it, so you would have to make a choice between the 04:23.066 --> 04:28.066 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% number of people you could cover under Medicaid and how much you would give them in benefits. 04:30.066 --> 04:32.366 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% It doesn't really address questions of the overall need for health care some of these 04:32.366 --> 04:34.900 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% moderates have. 04:34.900 --> 04:38.166 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: Now, Julie, we heard in Lisa's report the reference to what Senator Ted Cruz 04:38.166 --> 04:41.733 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% has wanted, has to do with giving states more options. 04:41.733 --> 04:44.200 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% Describe exactly what that involves. 04:44.200 --> 04:46.666 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% JULIE ROVNER: Well, Senator Cruz and a number of the conservatives in the House too have 04:46.666 --> 04:49.733 align:left position:20%,start line:71% size:70% complained that one of the biggest problems with the Affordable Care Act is that people 04:49.733 --> 04:54.466 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% who buy their own insurance are finding themselves paying much more, more both in premiums and 04:54.466 --> 04:55.466 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% in out-of-pocket spending. 04:55.466 --> 04:57.533 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% And he wants to help people. 04:57.533 --> 04:59.966 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% But basically the way he would do it is, he would say, for healthy people, if you want 04:59.966 --> 05:04.533 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% to buy fewer benefits, you can do that, and you would get less coverage. 05:04.533 --> 05:07.900 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And that, in fact, is what they would do in this bill. 05:07.900 --> 05:11.933 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% The problem, according to the insurance industry and a lot of others who oppose it, is that 05:11.933 --> 05:15.266 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% it would make coverage for sick people pretty much unaffordable. 05:15.266 --> 05:20.266 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% It would leave only sick people in those plans that offer all the benefits. 05:22.233 --> 05:24.800 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% For the people who are lucky enough to get tax credits, and they have lowered the threshold, 05:24.800 --> 05:27.966 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% those people would be mostly protected from those increases. 05:27.966 --> 05:32.833 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% But people who are buying their own insurance and make too much money to get those tax credits 05:32.833 --> 05:36.566 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% would bear the brunt of those very much higher premiums. 05:36.566 --> 05:39.200 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% So that's a big worry about how this might play out. 05:39.200 --> 05:43.133 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: So, Lisa, and the leadership was making this gesture in Senator Cruz's 05:43.133 --> 05:44.133 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% direction. 05:44.133 --> 05:46.200 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% How is it going over? 05:46.200 --> 05:48.233 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: These were intense negotiations to put this in the bill today. 05:48.233 --> 05:52.733 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% But, Judy, if you actually read the bill online, the entire Cruz amendment is in brackets. 05:53.600 --> 05:55.466 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% Literally, it is in brackets. 05:55.466 --> 05:57.966 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% And Republican leadership confirmed that means it's not final. 05:57.966 --> 05:59.166 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% It could still be taken out. 05:59.166 --> 06:01.300 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% It could still be revised. 06:01.300 --> 06:04.366 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% And one other tricky piece of choreography with all of this, multiple sources have told 06:04.366 --> 06:09.366 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% me that they are going to get a score from not CBO -- just from CBO, but also the Department 06:10.500 --> 06:11.866 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% of Health and Human Services. 06:11.866 --> 06:14.433 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% which is a very unusual step on this. 06:14.433 --> 06:17.266 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% They are going to see what the Department of Health and Human Services think the Cruz 06:17.266 --> 06:19.000 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% amendment will mean. 06:19.000 --> 06:21.933 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% And all of this is kind of adding new questions to the process as well. 06:21.933 --> 06:25.133 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: Presumably not knowing what the department is going to say. 06:25.133 --> 06:27.033 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% Is that right? 06:27.033 --> 06:28.566 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Or do they assume the department is going to come in and say this is a good thing? 06:28.566 --> 06:30.233 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% LISA DESJARDINS: That, we don't know. 06:30.233 --> 06:32.033 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% We know there have been conversations for weeks with CBO. 06:32.033 --> 06:34.800 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% CBO has known the general outlines of these bills. 06:34.800 --> 06:37.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Have they had those conversations with HHS as well? 06:37.033 --> 06:38.300 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% I don't know. 06:38.300 --> 06:40.333 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% JUDY WOODRUFF: Lisa, I want to stay with you. 06:40.333 --> 06:44.266 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% You have been following this day after day after day since the Senate went home for recess. 06:45.000 --> 06:47.066 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% They have now come back. 06:47.066 --> 06:49.700 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% What is the political calculus on the part of the Republican leadership in the Senate? 06:49.700 --> 06:53.533 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: I think it comes down to one fact, that they feel they campaigned on 06:53.533 --> 06:58.533 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% this and that they have to at least give it their greatest try or have to show themselves 06:59.400 --> 07:01.433 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% as trying as hard as possible. 07:01.433 --> 07:03.433 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Right now, it does look like it's going to be very difficult to get the votes for this 07:03.433 --> 07:08.200 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% to pass, but it also looks like they will hold that vote, even if it fails, to show 07:08.200 --> 07:11.433 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% their voters, we tried and this is as far as we could get. 07:11.433 --> 07:15.933 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% I think there is pressure from both conservatives an moderates to go both different directions. 07:15.933 --> 07:19.633 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% And that's what making this goal of reforming and replacing Obamacare impossible. 07:19.633 --> 07:21.666 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% JUDY WOODRUFF: Julie -- excuse me. 07:21.666 --> 07:24.000 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Julie, you have done your own share of reporting on this for a long time. 07:24.000 --> 07:26.133 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% What are you seeing as to where this goes? 07:26.133 --> 07:30.166 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% JULIE ROVNER: I see exactly what Lisa said, that they're caught between this promise that 07:30.166 --> 07:34.666 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% they made to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act and their ability to do it, which 07:34.666 --> 07:38.000 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% is difficult to find consensus within their own conference. 07:38.000 --> 07:41.633 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% So, I think they're going to sort of run out the string as much as they can. 07:41.633 --> 07:44.500 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% The bigger problem is, even if they get something through the Senate, then it will have to go 07:44.500 --> 07:46.566 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% back to the House. 07:46.566 --> 07:49.266 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% So whether you could actually get something through both chambers in any kind of timely 07:49.266 --> 07:51.533 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% way remains a big open question. 07:51.533 --> 07:55.400 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: And then we heard, Lisa, the president saying that he would be angry if 07:55.400 --> 07:56.700 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% the Senate doesn't get this done. 07:56.700 --> 07:58.800 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% LISA DESJARDINS: Right. 07:58.800 --> 08:01.600 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% And to be honest, sources I talk to, Republicans, aren't sure the president has helped-, because 08:01.600 --> 08:06.233 align:left position:20%,start line:71% size:70% as much as he's behind the scenes sometimes encouraged them, when he's gone and criticized 08:06.233 --> 08:11.233 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% the House bill later on, for example, as being mean, they're worried that if they join forces 08:12.600 --> 08:14.566 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% with him, that later he might say something different. 08:14.566 --> 08:16.866 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% I think, overall, it's important to just remember the broad contours of this bill. 08:16.866 --> 08:18.933 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% There are a lot of details, a lot of changes. 08:18.933 --> 08:22.633 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% But as much as it deals with the Affordable Care Act, this bill in its heart is also a 08:22.633 --> 08:24.266 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% Medicaid reform bill. 08:24.266 --> 08:27.700 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% That was something they didn't have to add to this, but they did. 08:27.700 --> 08:30.333 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And in doing that, they lost a lot of moderate votes. 08:30.333 --> 08:33.933 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% They're keeping with that because Republicans feel like it's important, but that was a big 08:33.933 --> 08:37.166 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% gamble that they took in actually putting two bills together here. 08:37.166 --> 08:40.100 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: All right, my producer is trying to tell me something about senators. 08:40.100 --> 08:41.866 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% Maybe there is new some information? 08:41.866 --> 08:43.100 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% (CROSSTALK) 08:43.100 --> 08:44.333 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% JUDY WOODRUFF: ... watch, particularly. 08:44.333 --> 08:46.000 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% LISA DESJARDINS: I think that's right. 08:46.000 --> 08:48.133 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% We need to watch a lot of key senators this week. 08:48.133 --> 08:49.633 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% Let's look at five very quickly. 08:49.633 --> 08:51.133 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% That's Ron Johnson of Wisconsin. 08:51.133 --> 08:53.166 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% We talked to him today. 08:53.166 --> 08:56.066 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Mike Lee of Utah, he's not happy with the Cruz amendment as written, even though was 08:56.066 --> 08:57.466 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% one of its authors at the beginning. 08:57.466 --> 08:59.200 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia. 08:59.200 --> 09:00.966 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% Dean Heller of Nevada, he's interesting. 09:00.966 --> 09:04.966 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% His governor today said he has great concerns about the bill as it is. 09:04.966 --> 09:09.666 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% And, of course, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, she had said she didn't like where this is 09:09.666 --> 09:11.166 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% going. 09:11.166 --> 09:12.400 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And we're waiting to hear from all five of those. 09:12.400 --> 09:13.766 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% They can't lose any one of those. 09:13.766 --> 09:15.800 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And that's just the beginning lineup of questions. 09:15.800 --> 09:19.633 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: I know the two of you are going to keep monitoring it every minute of every 09:19.633 --> 09:22.233 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% day until we know what the answer is. 09:22.233 --> 09:24.166 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% Lisa Desjardins, Julie Rovner, thank you both. 09:24.166 --> 09:24.733 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% JULIE ROVNER: Thank you.