For seven years – four straight election cycles – Republicans ran on repealing ObamaCare.
Even the so-called moderates . . .
So who are these RINO’s that voters need to know?
1. Susan Collins (Maine)
Out of all the Republicans opposing ObamaCare repeal, Collins is the least surprising. At the end of 2015, only Susan Collins and former Senator Mark Kirk voted against an ObamaCare repeal bill that was ultimately vetoed by President Obama. In one study from 1997-2015, she voted with her party less than 60% of the time.
There are reports that she may run for Governor of Maine in 2018.
2. Shelley Moore Capito (West Virginia)
In 2015, she said, “I am glad that a repeal bill will finally reach the president’s desk.”
Now, she’s saying she changed her mind because of “the reality the president is going to sign this bill.”
3. Rob Portman (Ohio)
Rob Portman’s 2016 campaign website said:
“Senator Rob Portman believes that Obamacare must be repealed and replaced with reforms that will actually lower costs and improve the quality of our health care.”
Today, he’s singing a different tune:
“If it is a bill that simply repeals (Obamacare), I believe that will add to more uncertainty and the potential for Ohioans to pay even higher premiums, higher deductibles.”
4. Bill Cassidy (Louisiana)
Cassidy won’t say if he supports a vote on straight repeal right now, but has stated on several occasions recently that he wouldn’t support efforts to scrap the bill without a replacement.
Again, like Capito and Portman, this is 18-months after voting for that exact proposal.
5. Dean Heller (Nevada)
Heller is mum when it comes to a vote on straight repeal, particularly after Trump chided him in a Senate luncheon – “Look, he wants to remain a senator, doesn’t he?”
But he’s widely considered a toss-up as he’s come out in opposition to the Senate replacement bills for their “cuts” to Medicaid.
6. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska)
In 2015:
“This law is not affordable for anyone in Alaska. That is why I will support the bill that repeals the ACA and wipes out its harmful impacts.”
Today:
Murkowski:
Republicans have to admit that some of the things in the ACA, they like— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) July 18, 2017