WH Threatens Alaska Over Health Care Vote

[kadee79]

Wednesday afternoon, Alaska’s two Republican senators got surprising phone calls from Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke insinuating that the Trump administration would punish the state should Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) continue to oppose Obamacare repeal efforts.

Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) told the Alaska Dispatch News about the discussion:

"I'm not going to go into the details, but I fear that the strong economic growth, pro-energy, pro-mining, pro-jobs and personnel from Alaska who are part of those policies are going to stop," Sullivan said.

"I tried to push back on behalf of all Alaskans. … We're facing some difficult times and there's a lot of enthusiasm for the policies that Secretary Zinke and the president have been talking about with regard to our economy. But the message was pretty clear," Sullivan said. The Interior secretary also contacted Murkowski, he said.

Sullivan said the Interior secretary was clear that his message was in response to the no vote Murkowski cast Tuesday on the motion to proceed with debate on the House-passed health care legislation.

www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/report-trump-admin-threatens-retaliation-against-alaska-for-obamacare-repeal-opposition/ar-AAoUDU0?li=BBnb7Kz

[bean29]

There is just something wrong with them conducting business via blackmail.

[kadee79]

Well, Murkowski may have just flipped the WH the bird....

Murkowski chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and has used the position to drive home Alaska priorities, particularly with Interior nominees. She oversees the confirmation process for the Interior Department.

On Wednesday, a committee hearing on nominations to the Interior and Energy departments was postponed indefinitely. A reason was not posted.

www.adn.com/politics/2017/07/26/trump-administration-signals-that-murkowskis-health-care-vote-could-have-energy-repercussions-for-alaska/


The quote is from further down in the article.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Jul 27, 2017 9:05:57 GMT -5 bean29 said:

There is just something wrong with them conducting business via blackmail.

I think this is actually kind of normal, in a "you vote for q and we'll try to get you something you can campaign on" type way.

Doing it so publicly is the kicker for me.

[Phoenix84]

Jul 27, 2017 9:05:57 GMT -5 bean29 said:

There is just something wrong with them conducting business via blackmail.

I don't know, I thought that kind of thing was common wheeling and dealing in Washington.  

Hold out on voting yes on a piece of legislation until you get concessions for your state, you do this for me and I'll do this for you.  If you think that kind of thing doesn't happen in Washington you're hoplessly naïve.  I mean, campaign finance and lobbying fundamentally built around the whole idea giving something to get something. 

[bean29]

I guess I generally think of the wheeling and dealing being in regards to future benefits or added assistance, in this case they are threatening economic damage if Alaska doesn't fall in line.

[Green Eyed Lady]

So what was said in this call from Zinke to Sullivan?

[thyme4change]

Common practice or not, optics matter.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

Threatening what amounts to economic sanctions to an entire state within the UNITED States because a Senator is voting for what she (or he) believes is the right thing for constituents is positively disgusting. 

I know the goal if this administration is to dismantle the federal government as much as it can, maybe their goal is also to dismantle America entirely?  

[kittensaver]

To the folks in Alaska who voted for tRump: welcome to your natural consequences. Enjoy the ride

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I think there is wheeling and dealing but this is threatening to punish an entire state to get the desired vote.

Maybe that does happen too. If that's the case then I'm for once glad for the big mouths currently in Washington. This type of wheeling shouldn't be tolerated in those that represent us.

We can't change the system if we don't know this type of stuff occurs.

[Green Eyed Lady]

So..we don't know what was actually said yet? Sorry if the story came out - same issue at work with research.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

Jul 27, 2017 13:46:23 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

So..we don't know what was actually said yet? Sorry if the story came out - same issue at work with research.

From the Alaska Dispatch News:

www.adn.com/politics/2017/07/26/trump-administration-signals-that-murkowskis-health-care-vote-could-have-energy-repercussions-for-alaska/

"Early Wednesday, Trump took to Twitter to express displeasure with Murkowski's vote. By that afternoon, each of Alaska's two Republican senators had received a phone call from Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke letting them know the vote had put Alaska's future with the administration in jeopardy."

"Sullivan said the Interior secretary was clear that his message was in response to the no vote Murkowski cast Tuesday on the motion to proceed with debate on the House-passed health care legislation."

"Efforts and issues on the line include nominations of Alaskans to Interior posts, an effort to build a road out of King Cove through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, and future opportunities to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and expand drilling in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, among other regulatory issues that are a priority for Murkowski and Sullivan."

[kadee79]

New development in this....

The top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee is calling for a probe into whether President Trump's Interior secretary threatened to retaliate against an Alaska senator for opposing the GOP healthcare measure this week.
 

Both Alaska Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R) and Dan Sullivan (R) said they received a call from Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke on Wednesday, informing them that the Trump administration will not support key projects with Alaska after Murkowksi voted against the GOP healthcare bill in the senate a day before.

Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) said in a statement Thursday that he plans to request a formal investigation into whether the Trump administration threatened the Alaska lawmakers, pointing out that he believes Zinke is serving Trump's "political vendetta" over the public interest.

"Running a department of the federal government means you serve the American people as a protector of their rights and freedoms," Grijalva said. "It doesn't mean you serve the president as a bag man for his political vendettas."

www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/top-interior-dem-calls-for-investigation-into-zinkes-call-to-murkowski/ar-AAoVHEG?li=BBnb7Kz

[thyme4change]

The important vote is coming up.

[Green Eyed Lady]

Thanks, Kadee. That's what I was looking for - what was actually said. Don't know about blackmail since that particular vote has already happened but it sure seems to be retaliation, which is just as bad.

[thyme4change]

I misspoke. I should have said 'there is yet one more coming up.' She still has time to play the game and save her state.

Even the AHIP is against this bill. Republicans think they are planting a tree, but they are really digging their grave.

[Green Eyed Lady]

Does anybody else think that President Trump's main goal is to overturn Obama policy?    Perhaps this is part of the goal to overturn Obama's Artic Policies (I think that's what they were called). It's always something that might be thought of as an Obama legacy that he seems to go after.  Yesterday, it was transgendered people in the military...plus the ongoing repeal of ACA.  Today, it's Alaska. 

Must be some big time issues between the two. 

[Tennesseer]

Jul 27, 2017 15:19:17 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

Does anybody else think that President Trump's main goal is to overturn Obama policy?    Perhaps this is part of the goal to overturn Obama's Artic Policies (I think that's what they were called). It's always something that might be thought of as an Obama legacy that he seems to go after.  Yesterday, it was transgendered people in the military...plus the ongoing repeal of ACA.  Today, it's Alaska. 

Must be some big time issues between the two. 

The big issue is not between trump and Obama per se but between trump and his overblown ego. trump does hate/loath it that Obama still has a higher approval rate than he does. trump has been fighting everything Obama since long before the election and it became very apparent when trump went on and on (and still goes on and on) about how he had more people attend his inauguration than Obama did. But pictures don't lie.

[thyme4change]

It appears that way. Half of the bills passed this session are reversing Obama era policies. Granted a lot of those were EOs or departmental rules signed between October and January. But it does seem like the main priority is to "undo" everything Obama did.

[emma1420]

Jul 27, 2017 15:19:17 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

Does anybody else think that President Trump's main goal is to overturn Obama policy?    Perhaps this is part of the goal to overturn Obama's Artic Policies (I think that's what they were called). It's always something that might be thought of as an Obama legacy that he seems to go after.  Yesterday, it was transgendered people in the military...plus the ongoing repeal of ACA.  Today, it's Alaska. 

Must be some big time issues between the two. 

Yes.  I've gotten the impression that Trump is trying to expunge any and all Obama's accomplishments regardless of their popularity.  I think that Trump is essentially trying to make Obama a footnote in history (as eliminating his status as a former president is impossible).  For example, I don't think that Trump gives a crap what is in the Obamacare replacement bill.   Hell, the GOP could be offering single payer for the entire nation and if it was referred to as the bill to repeal and replace Obamacare he'd happily sign it.

Trump, like all bully's, need to minimize the accomplishments of others and tear other people down in order to feel good about themselves.  But, in the end even if Trump undoes every single thing Obama did as President, he can't wipe out that Obama was president.  He can't undo that.  

[Green Eyed Lady]

Yes...well....I have no great love for Former President Obama or his legacy so I won't be singing his praises either.  I'd just rather that the focus was on our country and what is best for it rather than some childish vendetta President Trump seems to have.

Maybe I'm just reading more into it than is there. I'm guessing we do way more thinking here than the actual players in these dramas do.

[swamp]

Jul 27, 2017 15:19:17 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

Does anybody else think that President Trump's main goal is to overturn Obama policy?    Perhaps this is part of the goal to overturn Obama's Artic Policies (I think that's what they were called). It's always something that might be thought of as an Obama legacy that he seems to go after.  Yesterday, it was transgendered people in the military...plus the ongoing repeal of ACA.  Today, it's Alaska. 

Must be some big time issues between the two. 

Trump's main goal is to make Trump happy. Obama policies are just collateral damage to his bigly ego.

[emma1420]

Jul 27, 2017 16:01:13 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

Yes...well....I have no great love for Former President Obama or his legacy so I won't be singing his praises either.  I'd just rather that the focus was on our country and what is best for it rather than some childish vendetta President Trump seems to have.

Maybe I'm just reading more into it than is there. I'm guessing we do way more thinking here than the actual players in these dramas do.

And I don't expect Trump to be a fan of the former President.  What I do expect him to do is to care more about the country than he does about winning. Sadly, I think that is psychologically impossible for him.

[Deleted]

Jul 27, 2017 17:27:44 GMT -5 emma1420 said:

Jul 27, 2017 16:01:13 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

Yes...well....I have no great love for Former President Obama or his legacy so I won't be singing his praises either.  I'd just rather that the focus was on our country and what is best for it rather than some childish vendetta President Trump seems to have.

Maybe I'm just reading more into it than is there. I'm guessing we do way more thinking here than the actual players in these dramas do.

And I don't expect Trump to be a fan of the former President.  What I do expect him to do is to care more about the country than he does about winning. Sadly, I think that is psychologically impossible for him.

Interestingly enough, as a high percentage of Obama's "successes" are damaging to America, one can "care more about America" and strive to "undo Obama's legacy" at the same time.

I'm not saying Trump is worried about the first one... just pointing out that the two things are NOT mutually exclusive. The problem is, the Obama crap needs to be removed in the RIGHT way... not just be bulldozed over like Trump and company are trying to do.

If you have a rickety bridge of sticks that the cars are randomly crashing down off of, you don't just bulldoze the bridge and hope cars learn to levitate/hover... you replace the rickety bridge with a sturdy bridge.

[verrip1]

My, my, my.  Suddenly Democrats are aghast that politics involves putting pressure on individual Senators and Representatives to get congressional votes.

What insipid, phony posturing.  I didn't see these same people bemoaning the arm-twisted sale of Senator Ben Nelson's vote to pass Obamacare via pressure from Reid and Obama - they 'gave him an offer he couldn't refuse'.  The only difference between them and Vito Corleone was the horse's head.

Is a jar of hypocrisy supposed to taste better when it has the 'Democrat' label on it?

[thyme4change]

Jul 27, 2017 18:04:34 GMT -5 verrip1 said:

My, my, my.  Suddenly Democrats are aghast that politics involves putting pressure on individual Senators and Representatives to get congressional votes.

What insipid, phony posturing.  I didn't see these same people bemoaning the arm-twisted sale of Senator Ben Nelson's vote to pass Obamacare via pressure from Reid and Obama - they 'gave him an offer he couldn't refuse'.  The only difference between them and Vito Corleone was the horse's head.

Is a jar of hypocrisy supposed to taste better when it has the 'Democrat' label on it?

We just prefer a little more subtlety

[emma1420]

Jul 27, 2017 17:36:45 GMT -5 @richardintn said:

Jul 27, 2017 17:27:44 GMT -5 emma1420 said:

And I don't expect Trump to be a fan of the former President.  What I do expect him to do is to care more about the country than he does about winning. Sadly, I think that is psychologically impossible for him.

Interestingly enough, as a high percentage of Obama's "successes" are damaging to America, one can "care more about America" and strive to "undo Obama's legacy" at the same time.

I'm not saying Trump is worried about the first one... just pointing out that the two things are NOT mutually exclusive. The problem is, the Obama crap needs to be removed in the RIGHT way... not just be bulldozed over like Trump and company are trying to do.

If you have a rickety bridge of sticks that the cars are randomly crashing down off of, you don't just bulldoze the bridge and hope cars learn to levitate/hover... you replace the rickety bridge with a sturdy bridge.

I never said that was the case.  My comments were limited in scope to Donald Trump.  Granted I think republicans would be taking the country in the wrong direction, however, I don't believe if the president was Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney, or even a social conservative like Mike Huckabee, that any of them would be so consumed with destroying the legacy of the previous president they wouldn't care what form that took.

As indicated I truly believe that if Trump was presented with single payer and it was called repeal and replace he would sign it and then crow about his big win.  He's not fighting for republican and conservative principles.  I disagree with those principles, but I get fighting for that world view.  Trump doesn't have any principles.  He only cares about winning.  And to me that is particularly dangerous for the country.

[Deleted]

Jul 27, 2017 20:18:43 GMT -5 emma1420 said:

Jul 27, 2017 17:36:45 GMT -5 @richardintn said:

Interestingly enough, as a high percentage of Obama's "successes" are damaging to America, one can "care more about America" and strive to "undo Obama's legacy" at the same time.

I'm not saying Trump is worried about the first one... just pointing out that the two things are NOT mutually exclusive. The problem is, the Obama crap needs to be removed in the RIGHT way... not just be bulldozed over like Trump and company are trying to do.

If you have a rickety bridge of sticks that the cars are randomly crashing down off of, you don't just bulldoze the bridge and hope cars learn to levitate/hover... you replace the rickety bridge with a sturdy bridge.

I never said that was the case.  My comments were limited in scope to Donald Trump.  Granted I think republicans would be taking the country in the wrong direction, however, I don't believe if the president was Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney, or even a social conservative like Mike Huckabee, that any of them would be so consumed with destroying the legacy of the previous president they wouldn't care what form that took.

As indicated I truly believe that if Trump was presented with single payer and it was called repeal and replace he would sign it and then crow about his big win.  He's not fighting for republican and conservative principles.  I disagree with those principles, but I get fighting for that world view.  Trump doesn't have any principles.  He only cares about winning.  And to me that is particularly dangerous for the country.

You should have paid more attention to my second paragraph then... the one that explains how while my first paragraph uses points in what I quoted from you, it doesn't detract from your argument.

And I agree with you that Trump is dangerous for our country. As I said during the election "it doesn't matter who [won], we [were] screwed either way". The only good thing about Trump screwing us... is that it's bold and up front. We can ALL (well... all of us that aren't "brain dead Trump supporters at all costs", anyway) see it, and don't doubt it for a second. Had we lost the country to Hillary, instead of losing it to Donald, the screwing we'd be getting would have been better hidden from us... and as it would be better hidden, it's highly likely that it would have been even more damaging.

What's worse? A bunch of highly visible broken windows or a bunch of rotting timbers in the main foundations that you don't see until the house collapses?

[OldCoyote]

Jul 27, 2017 9:05:57 GMT -5 bean29 said:

There is just something wrong with them conducting business via blackmail.

Just out of curiosity Bean29, Do you remember the Louisianna Purchase or the Cornhusker Kickback before the vote on Obamacare?