CHANGE OF PLANS?

Trump Open to ‘Temporary’ Deal on Health Care

Floats a “one-year deal or a two-year deal as a temporary measure” after speaking with Sen. Chuck Schumer.

President Donald Trump said on Saturday night that he is open to a “temporary deal” on health care reform that would buy the GOP more time to fully repeal and replace Obamacare. “If we could do a one-year deal or a two-year deal as a temporary measure, you'll have block granting ultimately to the states, which is what the Republicans want,” he said, referring to the Graham-Cassidy proposal that failed to garner enough support last month. Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA) are negotiating a bipartisan market stabilization package aimed at preventing health care premiums from skyrocketing next year. It is unclear if the president would get behind such a measure, as he has shown in the past that he would be willing to cut off Obamacare subsidies rather than extend them on a longer-term basis, which is what Alexander and Murray are seeking. Trump’s remarks come after his discussion with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) about health care.