Trump isn't out of moves

You think things in Washington were ugly before? Just watch.

There are two key ways the President of the U.S. could undermine the law: asking his agencies not to enforce the individual mandate created under Obamacare; and stopping funds for subsidies that help insurers offset health-care costs for low-income Americans. Both moves could further disrupt the Affordable Care Act’s individual markets and eventually lead to higher premiums -- and angry constituents.
...
Where does this leave Trump’s implosion threat? One of the first steps the president could take would be to stop the monthly payments to insurers known as cost-sharing-reduction subsidies. The administration last made a payment about a week ago for the previous 30 days, but hasn’t made a long-term commitment. Trump has called the subsidies a “bailout” for insurance companies in the past.
“We are still considering our options,” Ninio Fetalvo, a spokesman for Trump, said in an e-mail.
America’s Health Insurance Plans, a lobby group for the industry, said premiums would rise by about 20 percent if the payments aren’t made.

Premiums were expected to rise by 10%-30% anyway. What this is suggesting is 20% increase in addition. Plus more than 2 in 5 insurers would abandon Obamacare without CSRs.
Trump could effectively gut Obamacare out of spite.
Would he do that? Would he hurt tens of millions of Americans just so that he could "win"?

It's with no little irony that Sam Brownback left Kansas, the state he decimated with a tax plan that destroyed the economy, to join the Trump Administration this week.
Because of the failure on Obamacare repeal, Republicans are set for a massive tax cut plan.

“The stakes really have been doubled now for tax reform,” said Steve Moore, who was a top economic adviser to Trump during the campaign. “They absolutely can’t lose. They can’t accept failure on that, or it will be a completely wasted first year of the presidency.”

taxcut.jpg
Amazingly, for the upper-middle class, nearly 20% of households, taxes would actually rise under Trump's plan in order to pay for tax cuts for the 1%. Even Fox News admits it.
While tax cuts are near and dear to Republicans, it's nowhere near a slam dunk.

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EdMass's picture

The Man Child and the Rethugs have proven they can't do sh*t.

Incapable of governing.

So he's gonna screw the Insurance Companies? Where all those rich people live. Really?

Don't think so.

He thinks he's Maduro?

I think you might be over thinking this.

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Prof: Nancy! I’m going to Greece!
Nancy: And swim the English Channel?
Prof: No. No. To ancient Greece where burning Sapho stood beside the wine dark sea. Wa de do da! Nancy, I’ve invented a time machine!

Firesign Theater

Stop the War!

@EdMass
They will either pill out of the exchanges, or pass along the costs.

One thing Repubs have proven they can do - oppose things.

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@gjohnsit

That, and drain and dispossess everyone else so that those having the most can have more at their expense. Total expertise in those areas...

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

The Aspie Corner's picture

is just gonna keep up with the grandstanding bullshit. More kabuki theater.

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Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.

Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.

pulling the subsidies. If he can do this without Congress, he will. He's a ...I can't think of a name vile enough to suit him.

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

@dkmich

He's a Clinton!

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I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

thanatokephaloides's picture

@The Voice In the Wilderness

He's a Clinton!

Hillary in a boy suit!

Wink

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"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

@The Voice In the Wilderness

Nasty, but so very, very true...

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

@Ellen North

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I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

@The Voice In the Wilderness

No, please don't apologize for using the 'C' word. You've got to call it out as it is for what it is, no matter how disgusting it may be.

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

snoopydawg's picture

You win the internet today.

@The Voice In the Wilderness

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

@dkmich link

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) extended an offer to work with Republicans on healthcare Friday, less than one day after GOP efforts to repeal and replace ObamaCare failed in the Senate.

"Democrats extend the hand of friendship, and look forward to our working together in the regular order for the good of the American people," Pelosi said in a statement.

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@gjohnsit

'... the regular order for the good of the American people ...'

Worse than the comfy chair, for the good of your tortured souls...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr5nFfWIqhQ

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

@dkmich
leaving in the mandate and increasing the subsidies.

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On to Biden since 1973

SparkyGump's picture

can't make a big enough profit and need WELFARE from the GOVERNMENT?! Where are their bootstraps?

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The real SparkyGump has passed. It was an honor being your human.

@SparkyGump

Do you really think the insurance companies can afford boot-straps with a mere 30% mark-up? Seriously??? That's why they have to take yours!

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

snoopydawg's picture

republicans on the tax reform legislation. This has been the democrat's motto for some time.
It would be nice if I'm wrong on this, but look at how many democrats voted for increased funding for the military budget.

The only difference between the two parties is on social issues and other issues that don't hurt their master's pockets.

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

snoopydawg's picture

Everyone knows that the corporations don't pay anywhere near the 35% tax rate. Many of them don't pay any at all because they can buy a corporation off shore to get around paying taxes. And they receive tax breaks anyway.

Republicans and many Democrats think the corporate tax rate — 35 percent — is too high and should be lowered. But few companies pay that rate because there are so many tax breaks and deductions that allow them to reduce their total amount of taxable income. The White House has proposed dropping the tax rate to 15 percent, though it has signaled it might have to agree to something higher to get a consensus. House Republicans have said they want the tax rate brought down to 20 percent.

Oh goody, the Koch brothers get to give their opinion for where the tax breaks should be given.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is scheduled to deliver a speech about the administration's tax plans Monday at an event hosted by Americans for Prosperity, a conservative group backed by the Koch family.

I don't recall that the brothers were elected to make decisions on how congress should allocate the money. They are responsible for what every republican governor is doing.

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

dervish's picture

@snoopydawg Hillary had Haim on speed-dial, others have the Kochs. These clowns get to chime in on all important issues, sometimes even ones that don't affect them. Our two main parties are wholly owned franchises of these vampires.

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"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."

that Trump said that he would discontinue the payments for Congressional healthcare.

I think it would be great if he could do that.

I think it's unfortunate that the repubs failed to repeal Obamacare. The insurance companies are a mafia.

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dfarrah

The beginning of the end?

Got to wonder if they ever heard of Marie Antoinette?

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Fighting for democratic principles,... well, since forever