WASHINGTON – Two top Republicans are proposing a bill for restoring federal payments to insurers that includes tough conditions sought by the White House and congressional conservatives. It has no chance of passing the Senate, where Democrats have enough votes to kill it.
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The plan would pay the subsidies for two years. It would also temporarily halt tax penalties President Barack Obama’s health care law imposes on people who don’t buy insurance and employers who don’t offer coverage to workers.
It also includes “pro-life protections.” GOP aides would not describe them, but Republicans have often sought to prevent federal payments from being used to buy health insurance that covers abortions.
The proposal was introduced by Sen. Orrin Hatch and Rep. Kevin Brady.
A bipartisan Senate bill with less stringent conditions has stalled.
