Senate Dem: GOP trying to ‘purchase votes’ for ObamaCare repeal bill with Alaska changes

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Thursday slammed Republicans for reportedly offering to make changes to their ObamaCare repeal bill that would benefit Alaska to win support from Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). 

“The outright purchasing of votes. Everyone involved in this moral and intellectual monstrosity should be ashamed of themselves,” Murphy tweeted on Thursday. 

The outright purchasing of votes. Everyone involved in this moral and intellectual monstrosity should be ashamed of themselves. https://t.co/A5ylD4CFhZ

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) September 21, 2017

Murphy linked back to a report by Politico on Thursday that said Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) had offered to make changes to their bill to win over Murkowski. The changes would essentially leave Alaska and a few other states with more Medicaid funding.

Murkowski voted against the last ObamaCare repeal bill and is seen as a key vote if the new legislation is to pass the Senate.

The Graham-Cassidy bill would repeal parts of ObamaCare, including an expansion of Medicaid that comes with new federal funding. It would then deliver new funds to states in the form of block grants, which the state governments could use to deliver health-care services.

Politico reported that Graham and Cassidy have a provision in their draft bill that would allow states with low-density populations to opt out of the new financing system. States that qualify could be able to continue with the existing Medicaid funding under present law.

The other states that might qualify under the provision are Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota and North Dakota.

Separately, Independent Journal Review, citing a Republican Senate said, reported that Graham and Cassidy were considering changes to their bill that might make the Medicaid funding more advantageous to Alaska in a bid to win over the Alaska senators.