Trump administration threatens veto as Tammy Baldwin pushes to overturn rule on health coverage
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin is set to lead a Democratic effort this week to force a Senate vote to overturn a Trump administration rule on short-term health plans that she said could hurt patients with pre-existing conditions.
And the Trump administration is fighting back by threatening to veto Baldwin's measure.
The vote could come as early as Wednesday.
Baldwin isn't backing down.
She tweeted at Trump: "Mr. President, I know what it’s like to be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition. And a veto threat isn’t going to stop me from fighting for the millions of Wisconsinites who need health care that actually works when they need it."
Baldwin has announced that 49 senators are in favor of her resolution. She needs two Republican votes to gain passage.
Under a discharge petition, it takes a simple majority in both the Senate and House to overturn the policy.
President Donald Trump's administration approved a rule to allow consumers to purchase short-term insurance plans that are less costly than coverage under the Affordable Care Act and provide fewer benefits.
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The administration has said the expanded coverage options are needed, while critics have labeled the short-term plans as "junk insurance."
"These junk insurance plans can deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions and don’t have to provide essential health services like prescription drugs, emergency room visits and maternity care,” Baldwin said in a statement.
The administration issued a statement late Tuesday saying the "new rule will increase choices for Americans facing escalating premiums and will create flexible options that are not currently present in the individual insurance market. It will also do so while preserving current options available to those who have pre-existing conditions or who wish to purchase more comprehensive coverage."
The administration said reversing the rule would "reduce affordable health care options for American families already struggling to cope with rising health insurance premiums."
If Baldwin's resolution "were presented to the President, his advisors would recommend that he veto it," the administration statement said.
Baldwin's effort is opposed by Leah Vukmir, her Republican rival in the Nov. 6 election, and Wisconsin's other senator, Republican Ron Johnson.
Even if Democrats lose the vote, they may emerge with a key issue with which to battle Republicans in the closing weeks of the midterm election campaign.
Democrats, including Baldwin, have criticized Republican efforts to do away with the Affordable Care Act, which guarantees that patients with pre-existing medical conditions cannot be denied insurance coverage.
Vukmir blasted Baldwin's move.
“As a nurse, I support giving Americans more choices in health care because the people know best, not the government," she said in a statement. "On the other hand, Senator Baldwin — who supports eliminating Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare and all employee health insurance — arrogantly says she knows better than Wisconsinites about which health plan they should buy, calling their decisions to purchase affordable insurance ‘junk.’ ”
Baldwin supports a "Medicare for All" proposal. During their debate Monday night, Baldwin said, "Leah Vukmir, unfortunately, thinks an expansion of Medicare will get rid of Medicare."