Debating the economics of Graham-Cassidy, GOP’s (supposed) last-gasp push to repeal the ACA

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 19: U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) (3rd L) speaks as (L-R) Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), Senate Majority Whip Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) listen during a news briefing after the weekly Senate Republican policy luncheon at the Capitol September 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Senate Republican held a weekly policy luncheon to discuss GOP agenda. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Senate Republicans have just nine days left to try to pass a repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act.

Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham teamed up for the bill now being considered. It would give the states block grants equal to the current federal funding for the ACA.

The pros and cons on AirTalk.

Guests:

Chris Pope, fellow at the Manhattan Institute, where his research focus includes the Affordable Care Act and Medicare and Medicaid; he wrote the recent National Review article, “Graham-Cassidy Is Better Than Just a Fix to Obamacare”

Sally C. Pipes, president and CEO of the Pacific Research Institute, a nonprofit think tank focused on free-market solutions to policy problems

Igor Volsky, vice president at the think tank Center for American Progress (CAP); he is the former Health Care Policy editor for ThinkProgress; he is also the deputy director for CAP Action Fund and co-host of the Thinking CAP podcast