GOP Doesn’t Have The Votes Locked Up Yet To Guarantee Health Plan Will Pass
Twenty-three Republicans still say they either will outright oppose the legislation or are strongly leaning against it. The caucus can lose 21 votes in the House and still pass their replacement plan. Media outlets look at where individual lawmakers stand on the issue.
The Washington Post:
There Are Still Enough Republicans Opposed To The Obamacare Replacement Bill To Kill It (For Now)
As the House of Representatives prepares to vote Thursday on an Obamacare replacement plan, there is still enough Republican opposition in Congress to kill the bill. Assuming no Democrats support the measure, Republicans can lose two votes in the Senate and 21 votes in the House. (Phillips, 3/21)
Roll Call:
House Health Care Bill Teetering On The Brink Of Failing
The GOP health care bill appears poised for failure with at least 19 Republicans committed to voting “no,” absent additional substantial changes, and several more likely to join them in opposition. This reality seems to be sinking in with GOP leaders, as they have started discussions with the House Freedom Caucus that accounts for most of the current opposition to the bill. However, neither leadership, nor the Freedom Caucus would say serious negotiations about changes were underway Tuesday night. (McPherson and Rahman, 3/22)
The Hill:
GOP Leaders Seek Healthcare Votes From Competing Factions
House GOP leaders are trying to navigate the concerns of competing factions to win enough support for their ObamaCare repeal-and-replace measure ahead of a crucial Thursday vote...The conservative House Freedom Caucus remains the chief obstacle to passage of the bill. Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) said after the group met Tuesday afternoon that there are “without a doubt” still not enough votes to pass the healthcare legislation. (Sullivan, Hellmann and Hagen, 3/21)
Bloomberg:
Ryan Confronts Familiar Foe In Health-Care Fight: Conservatives
A familiar group of conservative rebels stands between House Speaker Paul Ryan and his goal of passing an Obamacare repeal measure on Thursday: the House Freedom Caucus. The group said Tuesday it has enough votes to block the measure, arguing that it’s not a complete enough repeal of the health-care law, and Thursday’s vote could be the first sign of whether the caucus will be able to enforce its conservative principles in the age of Donald Trump. (John and House, 3/21)
Roll Call:
Battle of Wills Over Health Care Bill
The GOP health care debate has quickly become a battle of wills between the House Freedom Caucus and Republican leadership in the House and White House. And if the vote proceeds as planned on Thursday without changes to the bill, it will be a battle over reputations. Absent a compromise between the conservative caucus and House leadership and/or the President Donald Trump and his administration, one of the two sides will emerge from Thursday’s vote significantly scathed. “Without a doubt; it would be disingenuous to suggest otherwise,” Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows said when asked if the caucus’ hand would be weakened in future negotiations if the bill passes without conservatives’ concerns being heard. (McPherson, 3/22)
The Hill:
Conservative Group Will Key-Vote Against ObamaCare Repeal Bill
Heritage Action will negatively score votes in favor of the House's ObamaCare repeal bill, the conservative group said Tuesday. The House is set to vote on the GOP health plan Thursday. The measure is opposed by many conservatives because it does not repeal ObamaCare's regulations and insurer requirements. (Hellmann, 3/21)
NPR:
New Health Care Bill: Where Does My Member Of Congress Stand?
NPR and dozens of member stations have been collecting public statements from members of Congress to help the public understand where lawmakers stand on this issue. (Neely, 3/10)
Los Angeles Times:
This Is Where All Of California's House Republicans Stand On The GOP Healthcare Bill
Less than two days before they are scheduled to vote, a handful of California’s 14 Republican members of Congress say they are still weighing how to vote on the GOP plan to undo and replace parts of the Affordable Care Act. California’s 38 House Democrats have lined up pretty firmly against the bill, as have most of the chamber’s Democrats, so Republicans are on their own to pass the bill. House Republicans can afford to lose up to 20 members and still pass it with a simple majority. (Wire, 3/21)
Texas Tribune:
Texans In Congress Anticipate Controversial Health Care Vote
Suspense was the word of the day outside of the U.S. House chamber Tuesday, as Republicans scrambled to figure out which members of their caucus opposed the plan to overhaul former President Obama's health care law that Speaker Paul Ryan and President Donald Trump aim to put to a vote on Thursday. Republicans across the board are bracing for, as one Texas delegation staffer put it, a "squeaker" of a vote margin — if the bill even makes it to the floor. With Democrats uniformly opposed to the proposed legislation, Ryan and his lieutenants — including some Texans — have little wiggle room to negotiate policy differences between the GOP's hardliners and moderates. (Livingston, 3/21)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson Skeptical House GOP Health Care Bill Can Pass In 2017
Senate Republican Ron Johnson of Wisconsin expressed deep skepticism Tuesday about the Obamacare replacement bill his party is struggling to pass in the U.S. House this week... Johnson’s qualms about a plan championed by House Speaker Paul Ryan, his fellow Wisconsin Republican, underscore the challenges Republicans face in getting a health care measure to President Donald Trump’s desk, despite their control of both chambers. (Gilbert, 3/21)
Arizona Republic:
Martha McSally Signals Support For 'Obamacare' Repeal Bill; Trent Franks Doesn't
U.S. Rep. Martha McSally signaled support for the revised Republican health care bill Monday, but the plan's passage remained uncertain as it headed toward a key vote Thursday in the House or Representatives. In a statement Monday night, McSally, a two-term Arizona Republican, said the bill backed by House Speaker Paul Ryan "is not perfect and I still have concerns," but she indicated she was working to strengthen that plan. (Hansen, 3/21)
Iowa Public Radio:
Rep. Blum Opposes GOP Health Care Plan
Iowa Republican Representative Rod Blum said Tuesday he will not support the House GOP’s health care plan in its current form. The 1st District congressman tweeted that the American Health Care Act “doesn’t do enough to lower premiums for hardworking Americans.” (Sostaric, 3/21)
The Hill:
GOP Senator Urges Party To Cancel House Healthcare Vote
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) is urging House Republicans to cancel the vote slated for Thursday to pass their healthcare plan, saying the proposal won't pass in its current form. “I am strongly, strongly persuaded that it is not going to pass. I think they should cancel the vote because they don't have the votes,” Lee said during an interview with Fox News host Martha MacCallum. (Beavers, 3/21)
Miami Herald:
Ads Try To Pressure Miami Republicans Ahead Of Healthcare Vote
To witness the political tug-of-war in Congress over repealing the Affordable Care Act, tune into the TV or the radio, or go online, in Miami-Dade County. Ads for and against — but mostly against — House Republicans’ health plan have gone up over the past week, with two new campaigns launched Tuesday. (Mazzei, 3/21)
Health News Florida:
Congressman Dunn Talks Healthcare, Other Issues During Panama City Town Hall Meeting
North Florida Congressman Neil Dunn hosted a nearly four hour town hall meeting in Panama City this weekend. Dominating the conversation: Dunn’s view on Congress’ plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. The conversation between Dunn and his constituents was at times emotional.(Hatter, 3/21)
USA Today:
Rules Committee To Choreograph House Vote To Kill Obamacare
House Republicans are expected to clear the way Wednesday for a Thursday vote on the GOP’s Obamacare overhaul. “This is our chance and this is our moment,” House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said Tuesday after President Trump made a personal pitch to GOP lawmakers to pass the bill. “I think our members are beginning to appreciate just what kind of a rendezvous with destiny we have right here.” (Groppe, 3/22)
Los Angeles Times:
Welcome To The GOP's Obamacare War Room -- Coffee And Pastries Not Included
Each weekday morning, groggy aides pile into House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s conference room and suit up for battle. No pastries. Bring your own coffee. The niceties are limited. (Mascaro, 3/21)
Modern Healthcare:
7 Easter Eggs In The GOP's Tweaked Obamacare Repeal Plan
House Republican leaders have changed their healthcare reform bill to please both conservative and moderate members of their party. (Meyer, 3/21)
CQ Roll Call:
Partisan Sniping Over Deductions For Health Expenses
Lawmakers in both parties clashed Tuesday over a new proposal aimed at helping older people pay for health coverage under the House GOP bill to repeal and replace Obamacare. Republicans say lowering the amount individuals can deduct from their taxes for medical expenses could provide $75 billion. But Democrats dubbed it a "slush fund" that may never provide funding for its intended use. Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, said a new provision in the manager’s amendment for the bill (HR 1628) that would repeal and replace parts of the 2010 health care overhaul (PL 111-148, PL 111-152) would provide fiscal flexibility needed to build consensus in the House and increase prospects for advancement in the Senate. (Ota, 3/21)
Reuters:
Immigration Provision Cut From Obamacare Rollback, Angering Conservatives
Some conservatives in Washington were fuming on Tuesday after an Obamacare rollback bill was tweaked by Republican leaders to delete a provision meant to crack down on illegal immigrants getting federal healthcare insurance coverage. (Ainsley and Abutaleb, 3/21)
The Hill:
RNC Drops Six-Figure Ad Buy For Supreme Court, Healthcare Fight
The Republican National Committee (RNC) is committing almost $250,000 to a series of digital ads meant to pressure vulnerable Democratic senators into agreeing to an "up-or-down vote" on President Trump's Supreme Court nominee and to gin up support for the GOP healthcare plan working its way through Congress. The ad buy, provided exclusively to The Hill, is made up of three separate ads — two on healthcare and one on Judge Neil Gorsuch's confirmation — that will run on social media. The buy shows a coordinated effort by the party to support two of the key priorities shared by the White House. (Kamisar, 3/21)
