Tag: Dean Heller

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Trump Takes A Swipe At Sen. Heller: “He Wants To Remain A Senator, Right?”

Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada (L) next to President Trump

President Trump held a lunch with Republican Senators today where he said they should skip the planned August recess and remain in Washington until they pass a health care reform bill.

Just curious – will Trump stay in Washington as opposed to jetting off to one of his golf courses?

At the lunch, Trump took some not-so-veiled swipes at GOP senators who weren’t on board the recent GOP health care bill. He took direct aim at Nevada Sen. Dean Heller who was seated right next to him.

Via the Daily Beast:

“The other night I was surprised when I heard a couple of my friends—my friends, they really were and are. They might not be very much longer, but that’s okay. I think I have to get them back,” he said to laughter in the room, at one point turning to Heller to say, “[You were] the one we were worried about. You weren’t there. You’re going to be.”

And then Trump added: “He wants to remain a senator, doesn’t he?” The president continued, as Heller’s smile turned uncomfortable: “I think the people of your state—which I know very well—I think they’re going to appreciate it whenever you do.”

Trust and believe that it was no accident that Heller is seated right next to the president.

Heller, currently in his first term, is considered the most vulnerable Republican senator up for re-election next year as Hillary Clinton won Nevada handily in last year’s presidential election.

Watch Trump needle Heller below.

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Nevada: Sen. Dean Heller Says “No” To Senate GOP Trumpcare Bill

Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada

Republican Senator Dean Heller of Nevada (my state) announced today he will not be voting for the newly unveiled Senate version of Trumpcare.

Heller is considered the most vulnerable Republican senator up for reelection in 2018 being from a very purple state that went for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential race.

Via Politico:

“This bill that’s currently in front of the United States Senate is not the answer. It’s simply not the answer,” said Heller, the most vulnerable Senate Republican in the 2018 midterm election. “It’s going to be very difficult to get me to a yes.”

Heller is now the fifth Republican to go public with a threat to vote against the bill, which is the culmination of seven years of GOP campaign promises. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell can lose only two of his 52 members for the bill to pass when he holds a vote in a week.

On Thursday, four conservatives — Sens. Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, Mike Lee and Ron Johnson — said they aren’t ready to support the draft bill because it preserves too many of Obamacare’s regulations but said they’re open to negotiations.

Heller did leave the door open to supporting the bill if changes are made.

“Both Republicans and Democrats can agree the [Affordable Care Act] does need some fixes,” the Nevada Republican said.

Heller said he is opposed to the rollback of the Medicaid expansion because it hurts Nevada.

“This is all about Medicaid expansion. … You have to protect Medicaid expansion states,” Heller said, adding that he wouldn’t support rolling back Medicaid unless payment rates for a state like Nevada are boosted.

Trust and believe I was one of the phone calls his office received over the past couple of days.

Heller becomes the fifth Senate Republican to say they won’t be supporting the GOP Healthcare bill. Republicans only have a two vote majority, so with five saying “no,” this bill has to be amended. The problem is the moves to get moderate Repubs on board will push far-right GOPs away, and vice-versa.

The answer to healthcare is for Republicans to work WITH Democrats to address fixes in Obamacare. Period.