UPDATED: Quick, Tough Opposition to New GOP Healthcare Bill

It only took a few hours. On Thursday morning, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell finally briefed GOP Senators on Republicans' privately-negotiated healthcare bill, only to find that, within hours, there was stiff resistance among key lawmakers.

As of Monday morning there are five Senate Republicans who have expressed deep concerns about the proposal, and declared publicly that they cannot and will not vote for it. Four are conservatives- Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Rand Paul (R-KY), Mike Lee (R-UT) and Ron Johnson (R-WI).

The fifth is moderate Dean Heller (R-NV). Heller and Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval held a news conference Friday. Heller maintains that 200,000 Nevadans that are now insured would lose their coverage if the bill passes, a move he can't support. Heller's seat is one of the most hotly contested in the upcoming 2018 midterms.

Five more Republican lawmakers have serious questions about the legislation, though they haven't yet stated firm opposition. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Rob Portman (R-OH) have raised questions about the bill's effects on Medicaid. Collins and Murkowski have also historically rejected the defunding of Planned Parenthood.

[For key facts on the actual policy, check out Countable's summary of the bill, and its effect on Medicaid.]

Now, GOP Leader McConnell faces some hard math: it'll take 51 votes for the bill to pass, and there are exactly 52 Republicans in the Senate. Not a single Democrat is expected to vote for the measure, because it rolls-back key parts of former President Obama's Affordable Care Act.

That means McConnell can only afford to lose 2 votes from among his party's Senators. Why two? Because Republicans have the slight advantage of having a GOP "President of the Senate," better known as the Vice President of the United States, Mike Pence. In the event of an even tie -- meaning Senate Republicans get only 50 votes for their healthcare proposal -- Pence could be called-in to cast a tie-breaking vote.

The four conservative senators who openly oppose the GOP proposal say it doesn't go far enough in repealing Obamacare. The measure does cut Medicaid, reform Medicare, roll-back taxes in the health system and end the mandate that all Americans buy health insurance.

But these opposing senators are dismayed that many of the Affordable Care Act's provisions would remain in place, including the mandate that insurance companies accept customers with pre-existing conditions, and that young adults be allowed to stay on their parents' policies until age 26.

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) said,

“Victory will be enacting reforms that repeal Obamacare and substantially reduce premiums so that families who are struggling can afford health insurance.”

That leaves GOP Leader McConnell with a delicate balancing act: tweak the proposal to placate Senators who want a broader repeal of Obamacare and lose the support of moderate Republicans. Change the bill's effects on Medicaid and lose the members who want repeal.

For his part, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) said,

“I think there is a way to placate both. I want 100 percent repeal, but I would probably accept some percentage of repeal, but we have to be working in that direction. It’s not a good sign when we’re keeping most of the Obamacare subsidies if not more.”

Now is the time to make your voice heard. Hit the Take Action button to contact your Senators!

-- Matt Laslo

(Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr)