5 Things To Know About The Latest Fight Over Obamacare Repeal

WASHINGTON, DC — For seven years, a central principle uniting the Republican party was a simple pledge to "repeal and replace" Obamacare. Now, the GOP-controlled Senate has just more than a week to do just that, or its best chance to finally overhaul the American health care system will slip by.

The Graham-Cassidy bill combines the Republican Party commitments to cutting spending, lowering taxes and taking power from the federal government. Under the plan, Obamacare's taxes and funding would fall, and the money would be reallocated to the states based on a formula that largely benefits Republican-leaning states over Democratic-leaning states. States would have broad autonomy over how the funding is spent and which regulations to enforce, and most estimates predict the bill would increase the number of the uninsured by millions.

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Also See: Here's A Glimpse At The Latest GOP Health Care Bill, Graham-Cassidy

It's not clear yet if it will pass, but you can expect a fierce fight over the bill in the coming days. Here's what you should know about the debate so far. (Learn more about the bill itself here.)

1. Lots of people are against the bill.

Scores of interest groups have come out against the new repeal effort, including doctors' organizations, patients' groups and insurance companies. Opponents include AARP, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Kaiser Permanente, The Alzheimer’s Association and Alzheimer’s Impact Movement and the American Cancer Society, to name a few.

Here's what some of them have said:

• “The proposed changes to Medicaid outlined in the Graham-Cassidy Amendment could have a drastic impact on this vulnerable population given that more than 1 in 4 seniors with Alzheimer's and other dementias are currently on Medicaid." — The Alzheimer’s Association and Alzheimer’s Impact Movement
• "The Graham-Cassidy Amendment fails to match this vision and violates the precept of 'first do no harm.'" — The American Medical Association
• "The legislation reduces funding for many states significantly and would increase uncertainty in the marketplace, making coverage more expensive and jeopardizing Americans’ choice of health plans." — Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
• “This proposal would erode key protections for patients and consumers and does nothing to stabilize the insurance market now or in the long term. In addition, the block grant to provide support for the expansion population expires in 2026, thereby eliminating coverage for millions of Americans." — The American Hospital Association

Also, in case you were wondering, Jimmy Kimmel is against the bill.

2. Public opinion is against it.

Graham-Cassidy is a new, complex bill, so it's not likely that many Americans have a detailed understanding of what the law does. Nevertheless, a poll released Thursday suggests the bill has many more opponents than supporters among the American people.

According to Public Policy Polling, only 24 percent of Americans support the bill, while 50 percent are opposed to it. About 27 percent are unsure how they feel about the bill. Public Policy Polling is a respected firm, but it does have ties to the Democratic Party. Still, its estimates of the bill support are consistent with the wide swath of polling done on previous Republican health care bills, which were all broadly unpopular.

3. Trump is a big proponent, but may have doubts.

Friday morning, Trump took to Twitter to push the bill and blast one of its biggest critics: "Rand Paul, or whoever votes against Hcare Bill, will forever (future political campaigns) be known as 'the Republican who saved ObamaCare,'" he wrote.

A report from Politico suggests that the White House more broadly is ambivalent about the bill. Some aides are worried about blowback, Josh Dawsey and Burgess Everett report, and the president himself is mostly concerned with signing something that "looks like" repeal and replace.

4. Alaska has become central.

Proponents of the bill have been working hard to secure the support of Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who has previously voted against GOP health care bills. Multiple reports found that the bill could include a large funding giveaway to Alaska in an attempt to win her support, an idea which raised much criticism.

According to an article published Friday by The Daily Beast, though, that deal will not be included in the bill. With Paul vocally opposed to the bill and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine voicing her concerns about the legislation, a "no" vote from Murkowski would likely end the bill's chances.

5. Planned Parenthood gets cut.

One of the under-covered aspects of the bill is its cuts to Planned Parenthood. Like other Republican proposals, Graham-Cassidy would prevent federal funds from going to the reproductive health clinic, which many conservatives despise for its support for and practice of performing abortions. However, the bill would only restrict this funding for a year.

BONUS: John McCain came out against the bill on Friday afternoon.

"I cannot in good conscience vote for the Graham-Cassidy proposal," the Arizona senator said in a statement. "A bill impacting so many lives deserves a bipartisan approach."

McCain joins Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky in vocally opposing the bill. Maine's Sen. Susan Collins has also expressed strong doubts about the bill. If three Republican senators vote against the bill along with all Democrats, it will have no chance of becoming law.

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Photo by Zach Gibson/Getty Images