Republicans delay ‘Obamacare’ vote, dealing setback to Trump and Ryan
Posted March 23, 2017 4:08 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
House Republican leaders have postponed a vote on their health care bill in a setback for President Donald Trump and Speaker Paul Ryan.
Prospects for the Republicans’ showcase health care bill had looked grimmer by the minute Thursday despite Trump’s personal lobbying of conservatives.
Trump posted a video on Twitter Thursday asking people to get behind the plan. He says that people were “given many lies” about the Affordable Care Act.
Trump added that the legislation was “terrific” and “you’re going to be very, very happy.”
The chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus says there’s “no deal” on the GOP health care legislation after a meeting at the White House with President Donald Trump.
Two dozen or so Freedom Caucus members have opposed the legislation pushed by GOP leaders, saying it doesn’t go far enough to repeal “Obamacare.”
But the group had been negotiating directly with the White House in hopes of reaching agreement to eliminate additional requirements on insurers.
Without a deal with the Freedom Caucus, and with moderate-leaning members defecting, that left the legislation short of the votes needed for passage.
A senior Republican official said the vote would be delayed. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to freely discuss internal discussions.
House Republicans plan to meet behind closed doors Thursday night to consider their next steps.
Republicans were intent on voting to dismantle Obamacare on Thursday, the seventh anniversary of former President Barack Obama signing the bill into law.
Obama celebrated the anniversary of his landmark health care law, saying in a statement that “America is stronger because of the Affordable Care Act.”
Obama did not directly address GOP efforts to repeal his law, saying that if Republicans are serious about lowering costs and expanding coverage, and are prepared to work with Democrats, “That’s something we all should welcome.”
But, Obama says, “we should start from the baseline that any changes will make our health care system better, not worse for hardworking Americans.”
He notes 20 million Americans gained coverage under his law.
