What Went Down On Health Care This Week

Heller dug in his heels early, including on cuts to Medicaid. But he has really softened his stance since then, Micah, and has said he’s open to a skinny repeal. The skinny repeal may not include big Medicaid cuts now, but other Republicans are saying that they will use that conference to bring back the cuts to Medicaid. If they get to conference, it will be hard for him to stop the party momentum, but I think the Medicaid cuts in particular are a serious issue for many senators. I guess this is a question of where Taniel is putting his bookends!

Nichanian may be right or wrong — I’m not sure yet. If Heller is a “yes” vote for the “skinny repeal” but has stopped the Senate from the big Medicaid cuts, that is important. If he votes for the big Medicaid cuts in conference, then obviously he has flip-flopped.

Question for the group: What do people make of this thought, from friend of the site Daniel Nichanian?