A nonstarter in the Senate

In both its essentials and purpose, the Senate health care demolition job is a stunner. It falls in line with an earlier version from the GOP-dominated House and sends the same message: Republicans don’t think health care is worth the trouble or cost.

The Senate bill, cooked up in secret by a subgroup of GOP senators, amounts to a politically contrived way to erase the Obama administration’s signature feat.

It does exactly that: no more mandated coverage, cuts that will deprive more than 20 million consumers of insurance, and tax breaks for the wealthy. With no hearings so far and a hurry-up schedule for a final vote, Republicans are about to upend an industry that affects a sixth of the economy.

This process is the opposite of sensible lawmaking and humane concern. Just like the House architects, Senate leaders beginning with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky are acting without balanced input. A deep-dive look at the Senate version by the Congressional Budget Office will trail in days from now, not before the package was assembled. Debate, if there is much at all, will be kept to a minimum before a deciding vote next week. After that, the House and Senate versions will be reconciled and sent to the White House for President Trump’s near-certain signature.

There’s a downside to this head-spinning performance. Since the Obamacare program took effect seven years ago, it’s put down roots. Its limited popularity has grown to majority support in nearly every poll. Grumbles about big government have changed to worries about losing basic coverage even in red states.

That obvious message is sinking in, at least for some Republican senators. Their version is designed to be slightly softer than the House effort. In fact, there may be divisions within GOP Senate ranks with conservative members wanting a fuller withdrawal from health care and moderates favoring less damage. The carefully controlled plan could come undone if Republican ranks split.

The chances of a open revolt may stall the Republican juggernaut. But if party ranks hold, the end result will be disastrous. Millions will lose access to insurance. Coverage will be more limited in scope. The notion of health care entitlement will lose all meaning with capped enrollments and stricter cutoffs. The idea of treating sick people will be kicked back to the private market to solve via tax breaks and hands-off government, an ideology not a solution.

Nearly a third of California, some 12 million people, are enrolled in Medicaid, a prime target for trimming in the Republican plan. They are part of a vast national audience hoping a vital safety net won’t be shredded.