Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Rauner won’t talk about ACA repeal and replace until final product is on the table

Posted in:

Illinois

* Mark Maxwell at WCIA…

Governor Bruce Rauner’s plan to influence the national healthcare debate is to wait and see what happens next.

Vice President Mike Pence cast the deciding vote in the Senate on Tuesday, bringing Republicans one step closer to repealing President Obama’s signature health law, the Affordable Care Act. In a narrow 51-50 vote, the Senate filed a motion to proceed into the next phase of debate.

Governor Rauner’s office responded to the vote in an email to WCIA, which said, “The governor is eager to see how Congress resolves the debate over the Affordable Care Act. As you know, the situation in Washington has been changing on a near daily basis and he is holding judgment until there is a final product and plan on the table. That’s when he’ll be able to assess what this really means for Illinoisans.”

The statement provided by new Communications Director Laurel Patrick paints Rauner as a referee instead of a player. While no governor has a vote in Congress, several popular Republican governors in deep blue states have taken a more vocal stance against repealing Obamacare. Governors John Kasich of Ohio, Charlie Baker of Massachusetts and Maryland’s Larry Hogan are a few Republicans who have signed letters to Congress urging a more moderate solution.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 1:59 pm

Comments

And what will be his excuse be for avoiding comment when the U.S. Senate Republicans finally do settle on a poison?

Comment by Northsider Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 2:05 pm
Well, I suppose that’s consistent. They haven’t sent him the bill yet! /s

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 2:06 pm
Wait and See, Maybe It Will Go Away

Apt title for the new healthcare coming. After it is the law of the land probably isn’t a good time for any Governor to have any influence on it, is it?

A Republican Governor has zero thoughts on a Republican healthcare bill being debated by a Republican Senate and demanded by a Republican president? If he holds so little influence outside of the state, and hasn’t performed the duties of a Governor inside the state, what is he doing for said state?

Is he booking the State Fair acts?

Comment by illini97 Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 2:08 pm
Brave Sir Bruce he ran away……

Comment by Blue Bayou Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 2:13 pm
Governor Jell-O, Governor Waffle or General Indecisive?

I choose to lead from behind, thank you very much.

Comment by Tommydanger Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 2:16 pm
If the Republicans in Congress succeed in passing a bill which guts Medicaid, thousands of Illinois residents will suffer severe consequences as a result. It is simply unthinkable that Rauner has sat silent on such a critical matter throughout.

Comment by slow down Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 2:21 pm
He is choosing to be someone who complains after it’s too late rather than influence the process in a timely manner. That’s the exact opposite of what his job is supposed to be.

Comment by Thoughts Matter Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 2:24 pm
Just as a reality check, who in Washington is going to listen to him. I’m not sure a governor, even of a populous state, is going to have much sway these days of hyper-partisanship.

Comment by Swift Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 2:37 pm
Rauner never let’s a chance to wimp out pass if he can.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 2:37 pm
The governor’s failure to speak out on the AHCA/BCRA is inexcusable in a Medicaid-expansion state. There should have been a lot more emphasis on his MIA status.

Durbin was forced to do some of the statewide heavy lifting to get the message out. And his and Duckworth’s written requests (twice) to the governor to weigh in on the proposed legislation went unanswered. That’s … well, I dunno. What is it?

Comment by dbk Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 2:37 pm
After the decision is made, is done and final, then he’ll form an opinion? After the damage is done, when he can’t even try to soften the blow, THEN he will form and express an opinion? Yeah, you’re really working hard for the people of your state “governor.”

Comment by Perrid Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 2:39 pm
I wish his involvement was a little more, but I’m not seeing Governors in any states having too much influence on this process. Maybe they will as it gets a little closer to completion.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 2:42 pm
=== but I’m not seeing Governors in any states having too much influence on this process ===

Really? Is that why there is a bill on Trump’s desk?

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 2:49 pm
== but I’m not seeing Governors in any states having too much influence on this process==

You must have missed the press conference with Sandoval and Heller.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 2:59 pm
Mr/Ms Swift

Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 3:08 pm
but then it’ll be too late to advocate for what’s best for Illinois.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 3:08 pm
==Is that why there is a bill on Trump’s desk?==

Did I miss something? Is there a bill on his desk? If so, does he know?

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 3:11 pm
By those with whom ye hang out shall ye be known.

Of course he won’t offer an opinion, but his position is easy to deduce. His money/political connections are with Koch-linked donors and dark money-funded orgs–IPI, AFP,–in favor of and pressuring for repeal and replace, including dismantling Medicaid. The Google machine has tons of info.

As we all know, the Raunerite Group is a subsidiary of Koch Libertarians LLC. Who cares about Illinois, anyway. /s

Comment by Jane A. Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 3:26 pm
==but I’m not seeing Governors in any states having too much influence on this process==

I would disagree. I’ve heard several members of Congress reference their Governor’s concerns during this “repeal and replace” process.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 4:07 pm
One of these days, he’ll come out with a position on Pearl Harbor, just you wait.

Comment by Albany Park Patriot Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 4:08 pm
I can’t wait until he publishes his 3×5 index card on the Rauner Keys to Leadership

Comment by Montrose Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 5:03 pm
The dude is scared to death of Trump.

He’s riding the tiger: scared to stay on, scared to get off.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 5:08 pm
Thank goodness for GOP governors like Kasich and Sandoval pushing back against the efforts of partisan ideologues in Congress to gut Medicaid.

Too bad we have such a worthless gov.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 7:25 pm
HGF, given Rauner’s squeeze the beast actions and his rhetoric — when unguarded — I would not presume that he would be against 600K Illinoisans losing insurance under a “collectivist” program.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 7:34 pm
I agree that 600 k losing healthcare benefits is not on his list of important items as he adapts a social Darwinism approach to social concerns. . I would suspect he would be interested in the financial aspects of this federal shift and shaft . Not sure how he will pin it on Madigan if/when it blows up but I am certain he will try .

Comment by Jaxson Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 9:56 pm