Conservative health bill backed by Flake
Protesters have urged senator to oppose GOP measures
Sen. Jeff Flake, under intense pressure to oppose the Senate Republican health-care bill, on Monday signaled a right turn, saying he supports the more conservative “Consumer Freedom Option” proposed by Sen. Ted Cruz.
Flake, R-Ariz., facing a tough bid for re-election, told Capitol Hill reporters that he backed the Texas Republican’s amendment to allow insurance companies to offer less-expensive health policies as long as at least one of their options meets the requirements of former President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, or “Obamacare.”
“When asked whether he supports the Cruz amendment, @JeffFlake responds: “The freedom one? Yes,” a Politico reporter tweeted.
Flake’s spokesman confirmed to The Arizona Republic the exchange with reporters but otherwise did not elaborate on Flake’s position or thinking.
Flake had been saying that he had not yet made up his mind regarding the Senate GOP’s Better Care Reconciliation Act, or “Trumpcare,” which stalled late last month ahead of an anticipated vote.
Flake is seeking a second Senate term in 2018. He already has a Republican primary challenger, former state Sen. Kelli Ward of Lake Havasu City.
He also could draw an opponent backed by President Donald Trump, who hasn’t forgotten that Flake refused to en-
dorse or vote for him in 2016 and often criticized his call for a Mexico-financed border wall and other policy proposals. State Treasurer Jeff DeWit and former Arizona Republican Party Chairman Robert Graham are frequently mentioned as possibilities.
Ward and others on the right have also criticized the original version of the Senate bill.
Flake announced his support of the Cruz amendment on the same day Politico included him in a story headlined “President Trump’s enemies list,” which reported a months-old rumor that Trump has offered to spend $10 million to defeat him.
If Flake wins renomination, he could face a potential opponent such as U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton or state Rep. Randy Friese of Tucson in the general election. Deedra Abboud, a Phoenix attorney, has been in the race for the Democratic nomination since April.
The original draft of the Senate health-care bill was written behind closed doors without input from Flake or Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
McCain on Sunday said he feared the health-care bill, a top domestic priority of Trump’s, is set to fail.
The journalists’ tweets on Monday heralding Flake’s support of the Cruz amendment drew a fast response from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the arm of the national Democratic Party that works to defeat GOP senators.
“Senator Flake’s plan will dramatically increase costs for hardworking Arizonans while gutting coverage for pre-existing conditions — his determination to give big insurance companies and the wealthiest few another tax break will make middle-class families pay more for less when they can least afford it,” David Bergstein, a DSCC spokesman, said in a written statement.