In the wake of House Republicans unveiling their proposal to repeal and replace ObamaCare Monday night, on Tuesday, the network morning shows signaled that the GOP would not be allowed to undo President Obama’s “signature policy” without facing a “grueling battle” in Washington.
On NBC’s Today, co-host Savannah Guthrie started off the coverage by proclaiming: “...our top story, this grueling battle already shaping up in Washington as House Republicans roll out their plan to repeal and replace ObamaCare.” In the report that followed, correspondent Hallie Jackson declared: “That long-awaited bill from House Republicans is finally here and that means the real fight finally begins....It will be Congress's highest profile battle, and with the health care coverage of 20 million Americans in the balance, some of the highest stakes.”
While Jackson noted some conservative objections to the legislation not going far enough, she also hyped GOP “moderates” who “may balk at a provision stripping federal funds from Planned Parenthood.” She then warned: “Democrats, aiming to protect former President Obama's signature policy, won't let it go down easily, arguing more people could lose coverage under the new plan.”
At the top of the 8 a.m. ET hour, fellow correspondent Peter Alexander offered a follow-up report:
That long-awaited health care replacement plan from House Republicans is finally here. The coverage of 20 million Americans hanging in the balance. The White House calls the step an important bill. Democrats argue it doesn't protect the most vulnerable Americans and that it’ll raise costs and lower benefits.
After a clip played of left-wing protesters disrupting a Republican town hall meeting, Alexander asserted: “But it's not likely to sit well with some angry constituents who’ve turned out in force at Republican town halls to defend former President Obama's signature legislation.”
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At the top of ABC’s Good Morning America, co-host George Stephanopoulos announced: “Battle over health care. The GOP finally rolls out its ObamaCare replacement. Democrats and Republicans now gearing up for the fight. How will it affect the 20 million Americans in the crosshairs?”
Correspondent Mary Bruce hyped Republican division: “Republicans have been waiting years for this very moment. Upending ObamaCare finally in their sights, but before this new legislation was even released, members of their own party were threatening to hit the brakes.”
In a discussion that followed, Stephanopoulos listed “threats” to the bill:
Meanwhile, you’ve got basically three distinct threats that Mary pointed out there. The Planned Parenthood, the cut in Planned Parenthood funding on the one hand, the failure to expand Medicaid or the limits on Medicaid, and then for those conservatives who say that this is basically ObamaCare lite. Which one do you think is the most serious right now?
White House correspondent Jon Karl observed: “I would say the biggest threat is probably the conservatives. They're the ones that have dug in. You heard Rand Paul called it ObamaCare lite, Ted Cruz is digging in.”
In a news brief at the top of the 8 a.m. ET hour, anchor Amy Robach told viewers: “And a bitter fight is getting under way on Capitol Hill now that Republicans have unveiled their long-awaited plan to put an end to ObamaCare.”
On CBS This Morning, correspondent Nancy Cordes noted that the legislation was a “major milestone” for Republicans, “who had been fending off questions about whether they could even craft a credible Republican alternative to ObamaCare.” She then added: “However, there are still some key details that are missing, like the cost of the plan, because Republican leaders rushed to get this bill out before some of the number crunching was done.”
Moments later, she emphasized: “The question now, can GOP leaders win over conservatives who want deeper cuts to Medicaid and oppose the low-income tax credits? Without their support, the bill will go nowhere.”
Here are excerpts of the March 7 coverage on the NBC, ABC, and CBS broadcasts:
Today
7:01 AM ET
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: We’ve got politics to talk about first. Of course, our top story, this grueling battle already shaping up in Washington as House Republicans roll out their plan to repeal and replace ObamaCare. This as the White House is also dealing with questions over its new travel ban just unveiled and the President's claim over the weekend, without evidence, that Trump Tower was wiretapped by President Obama during the campaign. We've got complete coverage of all of this and we’re gonna talk to the White House’s budget director in just a moment. But first, let's start with NBC’s Halle Jackson. Hallie, good morning to you.
HALLIE JACKSON: Hi, Savannah, good morning. That long-awaited bill from House Republicans is finally here and that means the real fight finally begins. While the White House calls this bill an important step, Democrats argue it doesn't protect the people who need it most and even some more conservative Republicans aren't totally thrilled, with at least one already calling this “ObamaCare 2.0.” It will be Congress's highest profile battle, and with the health care coverage of 20 million Americans in the balance, some of the highest stakes.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: House GOP Rolls Out New Health Plan; Critics Pounce on ObamaCare Replacement]
Today starts the big sell. House Republicans looking to convince the public and some in their own party to back the new bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. What's gone? The mandate or requirement that people get covered or else pay a fine. What stays? Coverage for people with pre-existing conditions and for children remaining on their parents insurance until age 26.
What's changed? The new bill keeps Medicaid expansion in place for low-income Americans, but only until 2020. It promotes continuous coverage by implementing a 30% premium on people who let their insurance lapse. And it allows for a system of tax credits to help people pay for insurance based on age, not income. Credits that would be limited to exclude the wealthy. The price tag still isn't clear without an official cost estimate. Republican leaders say they'll pay for their plan at least partly with savings from repealing ObamaCare.
REP. GREG WALDEN [R-HOUSE ENERGY & COMMERCE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN]: It’s important that we make these changes. These programs aren't sustainable the way they are. We have to restore power to the states and the authority to really take care of the people.
JACKSON: What’s next? The work to win over skeptical Republicans, like moderates, who may balk at a provision stripping federal funds from Planned Parenthood. In the Senate, not much margin of error. A few GOP defections could mean trouble.
(...)
Good Morning America
7:00 AM ET
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Battle over health care. The GOP finally rolls out its ObamaCare replacement. Democrats and Republicans now gearing up for the fight. How will it affect the 20 million Americans in the crosshairs?
(...)
7:04 AM ET
MARY BRUCE: Republicans have been waiting years for this very moment. Upending ObamaCare finally in their sights, but before this new legislation was even released, members of their own party were threatening to hit the brakes.
(...)
7:07 AM ETSTEPHANOPOULOS: Meanwhile, you’ve got basically three distinct threats that Mary pointed out there. The Planned Parenthood, the cut in Planned Parenthood funding on the one hand, the failure to expand Medicaid or the limits on Medicaid, and then for those conservatives who say that this is basically ObamaCare lite. Which one do you think is the most serious right now?
KARL: Well first of all, Geroge, if you add those up, by my count, you have at least eight senators who have serious reservations with this plan, they can only afford to lose two of them. I would say the biggest threat is probably the conservatives. They're the ones that have dug in. You heard Rand Paul called it ObamaCare lite, Ted Cruz is digging in
(...)
8:03 AM ET
AMY ROBACH: And a bitter fight is getting under way on Capitol Hill now that Republicans have unveiled their long-awaited plan to put an end to ObamaCare.
(...)
CBS This Morning
7:06 AM ET
ANTHONY MASON: House Republicans who voted dozens of times to repeal the Affordable Care Act have finally unveiled their plan to replace it. The GOP proposal does not require health coverage. It relies on tax credits to help people buy insurance. It's still unclear how many people will be included in the plan and what kind of coverage will be available. Nancy Cordes is on Capitol Hill, where two House committees plan hearings on the legislation today. Nancy, good morning.
NANCY CORDES: Good morning. This is a major milestone for Republican leaders, who had been fending off questions about whether they could even craft a credible Republican alternative to ObamaCare. However, there are still some key details that are missing, like the cost of the plan, because Republican leaders rushed to get this bill out before some of the number crunching was done.
The Republican bill eliminates many of the main tenets of ObamaCare, including the individual mandate, the employer mandate, and most taxes. In their place, a dramatic expansion of health savings accounts, plus refundable tax credits for low and middle income Americans who don't get insurance through their work. Republicans say the credits would range from $2,000 to $14,000 a year, depending on age and family size. Oregon’s Greg Walden is one of the bill’s authors.
REP. GREG WALDEN [R-OR]: We're like the ambulance crew that showed up at the scene of the wreck. We're here to clean up the mess and heal the patients.
CORDES: His bill preserves ObamaCare statutes that protect people with preexisting conditions and allow young adults to stay on their parents' plan until age 26. The bill would until 2020 to scale back ObamaCare’s Medicaid expansion. That’s a concession to GOP senators like Ohio’s Rob Portman, who opposed an earlier draft of the bill that cut Medicaid more aggressively.
SEN. ROB PORTMAN [R-OH]: This would have been very difficult for us. And for a lot of people who right now are getting coverage under expanded Medicaid for things like drug treatment.
CORDES: The question now, can GOP leaders win over conservatives who want deeper cuts to Medicaid and oppose the low-income tax credits? Without their support, the bill will go nowhere.
(...)
