(CNN) — Senator Susan Collins announced Monday afternoon that she will oppose the GOP’s latest plan to overhaul the Affordable Care Act, bringing the total number of public “no” votes to three and likely killing the last-ditch effort to repeal Obamacare this week.
In a statement, the Maine Republican said the bill does not go far enough to protect people with pre-existing conditions and that the proposal’s cuts to Medicaid are too steep.
“Sweeping reforms to our health care system and to Medicaid can’t be done well in a compressed time frame, especially when the actual bill is a moving target,” Collins said. The bill would also “open the door for states to weaken protections for people with pre-existing conditions, such as asthma, cancer, heart disease, arthritis and diabetes.”
Collins told reporters that President Donald Trump talked to her on the phone Monday and that Vice President Mike Pence had called her over the weekend to discuss her stance on health care.
The decision, while widely expected, deals what is almost certain to be a lethal blow to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s eleventh-hour attempt to find 50 “yes” votes in his caucus. Collins joins Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Rand Paul of Kentucky, who have both said they will oppose the legislation. Sen. Ted Cruz also said he opposed the legislation as written.
Collins was one of three Republican senators to vote against an Obamacare repeal bill in July — along with McCain and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — stopping the bill’s passage on the Senate floor.
Her decision to once again buck her own party comes the day after Republican leaders released a revised version Graham-Cassidy bill, written by South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy. The changes included boosts in funding for states like Maine and Alaska, but did not address concerns that many have raised about the erosion of protections for people with pre-existing conditions.
Collins had foreshadowed her announcement on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday, saying she had a “very difficult” time envisioning a scenario in which she would support the Graham-Cassidy health care bill, but she was not definitive.
Collins announcement came after the CBO released a partial score Monday evening of the GOP’s plan, saying the Graham-Cassidy bill would reduce the budget deficit by at least $133 billion, but millions would lose comprehensive coverage.
The non-partisan scoring agency estimates that between 2017 and 2026, “the legislation would reduce the on-budget deficit by at least $133 billion and result in millions fewer people with comprehensive health insurance that covers high-cost medical events.”
New version released Sunday fails to sway no votes
On Sunday evening, the GOP released its latest version of the health care bill, which aimed to convince members who are still undecided to support the bill. The changes aim to increase funding for states like Alaska, but there’s no proof that the bill will bring the undecided senators onboard now.
In one new provision particularly beneficial to Alaska, the state would receive a 25% boost in federal matching funds for Medicaid due to its defined high-level of poverty.
Despite the new version, there are still plenty of obstacles ahead. An aide to Paul said that the Kentucky Republican opposed this version of the bill as well, citing how his requested changes were not included in Sunday’s version. Another aide to Cruz, said the Texas senator is “opposed” to the revised bill.
“It doesn’t address our concerns or include his requested changes,” that aide told CNN.
Cruz made headlines on Sunday when he said at the Texas Tribune Festival that the legislation as written did not currently have his support, though his answer did not definitively rule out backing the bill and added that he wants “to be a yes.”
Protests in the Capitol
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the committee hearing room Monday afternoon, and some interrupted the panel’s chairman, Utah Republican Orrin Hatch, when he started speaking. Hatch gaveled the committee into recess for a short time while demonstrators were removed.
The top Democrat on the committee, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, hand delivered pizza to the crowd before the hearing — making an impromptu, impassioned speech to the crowd.The top Democrat on the committee, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon hand delivered pizza to the crowd before the hearing — making an impromptu, impassioned speech to the crowd.
“You are the faces of political change in America,” he said. “I’m bringing you some pizza because you can’t win a big battle against special interests on an empty stomach.” He said they are with them “in this battle every step of the way. We are going to beat Trumpcare!” Chants of “kill the bill!” and “Kill Trumpcare, don’t kill me” followed from the raucous crowd.
A large group of people sat gathered outside Murkowski’s office Monday afternoon. Murkwoski’s not expected to be back in the Capitol before this evening, but her staff met with those outside the office and brought them cups of water.
Deadline approaches
A partisan health care bill must be voted on by the end of the week, when the vehicle that Republicans are using to move their plan is expected to expire.
The stakes are incredibly high for members and Republican leaders who have tried to forge ahead with the bill. Gutting Obamacare was the GOP’s promise for seven years, and facing a second defeat would only expose the party to more criticism from its donors and base. The party is now split between supporting a bill that appears unpopular with stakeholders and hasn’t had even two full weeks to be vetted or moving ahead in an effort to pass anything it can.
