• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Farm groups saved Bayer in court over RoundUp cancer claims. Five days later, Bayer called for tariffs on the ingredient farmers rely on

2

Billionaire MacKenzie Scott just donated $20 million to support America’s youth mental health, as a fifth of teens struggle with suicidal thoughts

3

Self-made multimillionaire says Canadians 'give no money away' compared with Americans—research shows U.S. giving is more than twice as high

1

Farm groups saved Bayer in court over RoundUp cancer claims. Five days later, Bayer called for tariffs on the ingredient farmers rely on

2

Billionaire MacKenzie Scott just donated $20 million to support America’s youth mental health, as a fifth of teens struggle with suicidal thoughts

3

Self-made multimillionaire says Canadians 'give no money away' compared with Americans—research shows U.S. giving is more than twice as high
HealthGovernment

Graham-Cassidy May Be Dead, But Obamacare Repeal Is Very Much Alive

By
Sy Mukherjee
Sy Mukherjee
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Sy Mukherjee
Sy Mukherjee
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 26, 2017, 7:31 PM ET
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Obamacare repeal died, yet again, on Tuesday.

Senate Republican leaders have chosen not to vote on the Graham-Cassidy health care bill once it became apparent it simply didn’t have the votes to pass. Support for the bill began building steam earlier this month but recently sputtered as prominent GOP Senators like Kentucky’s Rand Paul, Arizona’s John McCain, Maine’s Susan Collins, and now Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski defected over various legislative process and policy concerns.

Obamacare supporters may be cheering, but the Obamacare repeal drama will never truly be over as long as its fiercest opponents hold the reins of Congress and the White House—and continue failing to deliver on a central political promise delivered to ad nauseum the GOP base over the past seven years.

“We haven’t given up on changing the American health care system,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said in a statement after the bill was pulled. “We are not going to be able to do that this week, but it still lies ahead of us, and we haven’t given up on that.”

Graham Cassidy bill sponsors Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Dean Heller of Nevada, and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin vowed to press on with the quixotic effort even though it’s doomed ahead of a September 30 deadline to pass health care legislation on a strictly Republican party-line vote.

“As a result of our efforts in the last few weeks, it’s not a question of ‘if’ Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson replaces Obamacare–it’s a question of when,” the legislative quartet wrote in a statement. “Due to circumstances under our control and not under our control, the process and timing of this vote did not line up this time. However, our idea of sending the power and money to the states clearly resounded with our colleagues.”

That may or may not prove to be true. Conservatives like Paul had expressed displeasure that even Graham Cassidy, by some accounts the most radical of the multiple recent Obamacare repeal efforts, didn’t go far enough to dismantle the health law; moderates like Collins and Murkowski have been dismayed over the legislation’s expected effect of fundamentally restructuring both Obamacare and the Medicaid program for the poor through big federal funding cuts and provisions which might allow insurers in certain states to charge Americans with pre-existing conditions more money.

But McCain has previously stated his main problem is with the rushed legislative process driving Obamacare repeal bills; if Republicans can hobble a number of Democratic votes after going through the committee process (admittedly a difficult proposition), it’s possible he could be convinced to change his mind.

The bigger issue is that Republicans, who control both houses of Congress and the presidency, could revive the special legislative vehicle allowing for a major bill to be passed with just 50 votes on a future budget resolution. While some lawmakers have said they’re ready to pivot to tax reform in the near future, budget fights in 2018 and 2019 could revive party-line efforts to repeal Obamacare. It’s unclear whether the opposition driven by the chaos of this year’s initial push would persist closer to a Congressional or presidential election.

And there are plenty of ways the Trump administration can undermine Obamacare without a legislative boost. For instance, the funding for outreach during Obamacare’s upcoming open enrollment season has been gutted by the administration, while President Donald Trump’s threats to end certain critical subsidies to insurers that shield some low-income consumers from high out-of-pocket medical costs have catalyzed a deluge of insurance company exits from the law’s marketplaces.

It’s even possible that Democrats and Republicans can hash out a short-term fix to shore up Obamacare’s very real problems, only to see the repeal debate come back to life down the line—after all, as Trump has pointed out on multiple occasions, the GOP has woven Obamacare opposition into the very fabric of its political being.

About the Author
By Sy Mukherjee
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Health

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Health

Vietnam is paying women to have more babies—but there’s a catch: they have to be on baby no. 2 to qualify for the cash bonus
AsiaCareers
Vietnam is paying women to have more babies—but there’s a catch: they have to be on baby no. 2 to qualify for the cash bonus
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJuly 10, 2026
2 hours ago
Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott
SuccessBillionaires
Billionaire MacKenzie Scott just donated $20 million to support America’s youth mental health, as a fifth of teens struggle with suicidal thoughts
By Emma BurleighJuly 9, 2026
17 hours ago
m
Commentarymedicine
America’s bone health is quietly headed for a $19 billion crisis
By Matthew T. DrakeJuly 9, 2026
24 hours ago
Vets issue urgent warning to pet owners as flesh-eating screwworm spreads through Texas and New Mexico
Healthpets
Vets issue urgent warning to pet owners as flesh-eating screwworm spreads through Texas and New Mexico
By John Hanna and The Associated PressJuly 8, 2026
1 day ago
The Best Rowing Machines (2026): Trainer Tested and Approved
HealthDietary Supplements
The Best Rowing Machines (2026): Trainer Tested and Approved
By Christina SnyderJuly 8, 2026
2 days ago
Asia’s super-aging societies are sparking a boom in high-end longevity clinics—even if ‘public enthusiasm’ is outpacing the science
AsiaPersonal Health, Fitness, and Wellness
Asia’s super-aging societies are sparking a boom in high-end longevity clinics—even if ‘public enthusiasm’ is outpacing the science
By Angelica AngJuly 8, 2026
2 days ago

Most Popular

Farm groups saved Bayer in court over RoundUp cancer claims. Five days later, Bayer called for tariffs on the ingredient farmers rely on
Economy
Farm groups saved Bayer in court over RoundUp cancer claims. Five days later, Bayer called for tariffs on the ingredient farmers rely on
By Mia OsmonbekovJuly 9, 2026
17 hours ago
Billionaire MacKenzie Scott just donated $20 million to support America’s youth mental health, as a fifth of teens struggle with suicidal thoughts
Success
Billionaire MacKenzie Scott just donated $20 million to support America’s youth mental health, as a fifth of teens struggle with suicidal thoughts
By Emma BurleighJuly 9, 2026
17 hours ago
Self-made multimillionaire says Canadians 'give no money away' compared with Americans—research shows U.S. giving is more than twice as high
Success
Self-made multimillionaire says Canadians 'give no money away' compared with Americans—research shows U.S. giving is more than twice as high
By Preston ForeJuly 9, 2026
18 hours ago
Current price of oil as of July 9, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of July 9, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 9, 2026
21 hours ago
Ex-PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi worked from midnight until 5 a.m. as a receptionist to pay for her Yale degree—and she says ‘respect went up’ because of it
Success
Ex-PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi worked from midnight until 5 a.m. as a receptionist to pay for her Yale degree—and she says ‘respect went up’ because of it
By Preston ForeJuly 6, 2026
4 days ago
Investment firm's cofounder sues after being fired for neglecting the in-person work mandate he signed, saying it applies to employees not owners
Law
Investment firm's cofounder sues after being fired for neglecting the in-person work mandate he signed, saying it applies to employees not owners
By Jason MaJuly 5, 2026
5 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.