The decision by Senate Republicans leaders to set aside the Graham-Cassidy plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has renewed talk of finding a bipartisan way forward on health care. But disagreement about what a bipartisan negotiation would be about is still an obstacle to getting a negotiation underway.
Many Democrats profess to want to participate in talks with Republicans on health care. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says he and his colleagues stand ready to work with Republicans on an adjustment to the ACA “that stabilizes markets, that lowers premiums.” But framing the purpose of the talks in this way will make it hard for them to ever take place. Rank-and-file Republicans don't want to participate in a negotiation that has the singular purpose of “shoring up” Obamacare.
