Schumer to McConnell: Let's spend August on health care

[DonViejo]

Source: Politico




By ELANA SCHOR 06/06/2018 06:00 AM EDT

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's move to scrap most of the chamber's August recess promises to rob politically imperiled Democratic incumbents of campaigning time, but Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is embracing the change with a pitch for how to spend it: health care.

Schumer (D-N.Y.) plans to send McConnell (R-Ky.) a letter on Wednesday asking him to set aside August time for votes on five Democratic-backed proposals aimed at expanding and lowering the cost of health care, which he previewed Tuesday after the Kentucky Republican announced plans to ax three of the Senate's four planned recess weeks during that month.

"We believe this previously unscheduled session time can be put to good use to finally help Americans secure the affordable health care the President and Congressional Republicans have thus far failed to deliver," Schumer wrote to McConnell in his letter, a copy of which was obtained by POLITICO.

Despite Schumer's request, McConnell and the Senate GOP anticipate using their extra August time to confirm more of President Donald Trump's judicial and executive-branch nominees, as well as move ahead on spending bills for the coming fiscal year.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/06/schumer-mcconnell-health-care-senate-august-628568

[greymattermom]

1. A great strategy

because Schumer has reasonable proposals in hand, because prices are going up rapidly, and because Dems are running on health care. It will be easy to say that Republicans had a special session of the Senate and refused to even discuss health care, and open enrollment will be starting at around the time of the election so it will be on folks' minds.

[lagomorph777]

3. Yes, it might trigger anouther round of trying to kill Obamacare beneficiaries (i.e. everybody).

Which would strongly benefit Dems in the election.

[mcar]

2. Good move on Schumer's part

[HenryWallace]

4. Come on Chuck, why not tarriffs for Buggy Whip Manufacturers!

Still pushing what people don't want....

[link:

Link to tweet

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[lark]

5. Good thinking, but Mitch don't care.

This is about getting in more judges and rw personnel and he probably won't open up health care - 1 , it's a winning message for dems so he will ignore it & 2) they have no ideas or plans on how to improve healthcare, only how to destroy it.

[KPN]

6. Good strategy -- IF the MSM gives it any real attention ...

which I doubt. Even if it does, Schuler's pitch won't make a dent in the loyalty of deplorables who consistently vote against their own interests. We are so fucked by these piss poor excuses for human beings!

Can we just thin the herd for crying out loud?

[True Blue American]

7. McConnell is trying to get as many

Republicans on the bench as he can because he knows their time is going out.

Mitch will also retirei ifhe loses the Majority.