The deficit issue is a crucial one, given several senators have already expressed concerns about piling up more debt as a result of the tax overhaul. The Senate proposal would eliminate those penalties, effectively scrapping the coverage requirement, known as the individual mandate. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that repealing the individual mandate would increase average health insurance premiums on the individual market by about 10 percent. “If we can repeal part of Obamacare as part of a tax bill, and have a tax bill that is still a good tax bill that can pass, that’s great,” he said on CNN. “If it becomes an impediment to getting the best tax bill we can, then we’re O.K.

Source: New York Times November 20, 2017 23:40 UTC