Moderate Republican unamused as Trump flanks himself with women senators

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) is skeptical of the Senate GOP health care bill to repeal Obamacare. It’s being drafted in secret by a committee that includes no women. There have been no public hearings. Few senators have apparently even seen any text of the bill. And the media was just banned from conducting interviews in the […]

By Katie Paris - June 13, 2017

It’s being drafted in secret by a committee that includes no women. There have been no public hearings. Few senators have apparently even seen any text of the bill. And the media was just banned from conducting interviews in the Senate halls.

Referring to a recent Senate GOP meeting on the bill, Murkowski revealed to her home state paper just how vague and detail-free the process has been:

The meeting Tuesday included “an overview of kind of policy goals, and so in terms of specific details, it was pretty general,” Murkowski said. “One of the goals is reduce cost. Oh! Well, of course we’re all in agreement here. But how do you reduce the costs? That’s where the devil is in the detail there.”

Murkowski further pointed to a “wide divergence of views” among her party on Medicaid expansion, pre-existing conditions, and tax credits and indicated that she didn’t see her party leaders moving the caucus toward consensus legislation.

So when Donald Trump invited 15 Republican senators to the White House to discuss the bill, and she was seated right next to him, her reaction was fitting.

Straight-faced and unamused, Murkowski’s demeanor stood in stark contrast to that of Trump supporter Sen. Joni Ernst, who sat on the other side of Trump, all the while nodding and smiling.

Reporters remarked about Murkowski’s telling demeanor on Twitter:

Murkowski sits still, leaning away with a stern look, even as Trump cracks a campaign joke. pic.twitter.com/Gz04khwJVr

— David Mack (@davidmackau) June 13, 2017

Joni Ernst looks happy to be sitting next to Trump; Lisa Murkowski looks terrified. Never smiled once.

— Joan Walsh (@joanwalsh) June 13, 2017

@lisamurkowski doesn't look particularly amused by #PresidentLoco's rantings, right now. I like Lisa Murkowski.

— Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@ananavarro) June 13, 2017

The disastrous Republican health care bill should make every member of the U.S. Senate uncomfortable. Murkowski just showed that she is certainly among them.

Katie Paris