Republicans aren’t even hiding it. They are trying to bribe Sen. Lisa Murkowski by letting Alaska keep Obamacare if she will vote to destroy the healthcare system for the rest of the US.
Politico reported, “The Senate’s Obamacare repeal bill may protect Alaska and up to four other sparsely populated states from major cuts to Medicaid through 2026, a potential boon to the home of pivotal GOP swing vote Sen. Lisa Murkowski. The plan from Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) allows a limited number of states to opt out of its new Medicaid financing system, which would give states set sums to run their programs and do away with the open-ended entitlement that exists today.”
According to Axios, Republicans are offering Murkowski:
– Alaska and Hawaii would “continue to receive Obamacare’s premium tax credits” despite them getting repealed in the rest of the country.
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– Medicaid per capita caps are delayed for both Alaska and Hawaii.
– Both states get “an increased federal Medicaid matching rate”
Alaska and Hawaii get to keep Obamacare, while the rest of the country gets screwed by either losing their health insurance or paying more expensive premiums for less coverage. If Obamacare is good enough for Alaska and Hawaii, it is good enough for the rest of the country. Taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay for Alaska to get a special deal because Republicans are trying to buy Lisa Murkowski’s vote.
Senate Republicans are pulling out all the stops, which means that if Obamacare is going to remain the law of the land, it will be up to the American people to make sure that Sen. Murkowski stays strong and rejects Republican bribes.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
