According to Capito, she's "transitioning" not "phasing out"

Here is Senator Capito's twitter response to a question raised by Peter Sullivan, who writes for The Hill:

I had an interesting exchange just now with Sen. Capito on 7 yr phaseout of Medicaid expansion $. She prefers to say "transitional period" pic.twitter.com/MspXlopKzv

— Peter Sullivan (@PeterSullivan4) June 14, 2017

It's a bullshit response from Capito and it also suggests that she is already spinning her vote. As Matthew Chapman at Shareblue writes:

. . . . she claims that some people will be transitioned to coverage that is “as good as Medicaid” and “affordable and as broad as what they need,” she does not explain what that coverage is or how they will pay for it. The truth is that no such program exists.

But why would Capito do this?

Why would she cut the care of 175,000 West Virginians when she has repeatedly said that she wouldn't?

1. Under the previous administration, Obama's certain veto meant she could vote countless times for repeal with little worry of having to be in favor of a specific replacement. At the beginning of the Trump Administration, it appeared that neither the House nor the Senate was prepared to pass any serious replacement for Obamacare which allowed Capito to support continuing support for expanded Medicaid in West Virginia. Not unlike her hundreds of previous votes to end Obamacare, her stand didn't look to be in jeopardy -- there didn't seem to be a likely possibility that Republicans could pass a replacement for Obamacare. Now it may happen and Capito has a problem. Unlike fellow-senator Joe Manchin in the Democratic Party, Capito has been a very loyal member of her party and has never made waves in her 2+ years in the Senate. Compounding this is the slimness of the Republican edge in the Senate. Consequently, the pressure appears to be on her now since her vote may be the deciding vote.

2. The Republicans may give her "cover" to get her onboard. Andy Slavitt, USA Today opinion columnist, lists a whole host of goodies for Capito's vote:

— An “opioid fund” that restores only a small fraction of the massive Medicaid cuts and does not require insurers to cover related physical and mental health services.

— A “delay” of the end date for Medicaid expansion, probably beyond each of the senators’ re-election dates, but which would still end the expansion to people slightly above the poverty line and cause 50 million people to be without insurance by 2026.

— A “facelift” meant to improve the House bill for people with pre-existing conditions, but with loopholes that lead to the same result. For example, insurers couldn’t deny coverage to people with cancer, but they could refuse to cover cancer treatment.

— A small “topping up” of tax credits for older people who will pay much more for care under the House bill, but there will still be an “age tax,” which causes premiums to skyrocket for people in their 50s and 60s.

— “State buyoffs” that give something to one state paid for by all taxpayers.

(Readers "served" by Ogden papers can just imagine the positive spin for Capito we'll see if any or all of these happen.)

Slavitt concludes:

Put yourself in the shoes of one of the principal targets of these deals, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia. She’s hardly a household name. But if the fate of the entire health care debate came down to one person, it could be Capito.

That's a scary thought.

Is there any opposition?

As I've noted in previous posts, the Republicans are closely guarding their actions and there has not been much media attention to them or their bill (not much has been released). However, there are some groups working to prevent the passage of Trumpcare.

Here's an ad directed at Capito from AARP Advocates:

And here is one from Moveon.org:

There is also one from Save My Care.

Beyond the news, I don't watch much local television -- I have not seen any of these.

A note for Ohio readers

Republican Senator Rob Portman is often mentioned along with Capito for similar reason.