GOP Whip, Freedom Caucus Chair Don’t Want To Bog Down Tax Reform With Health Care
Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) and House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) both oppose pairing the two issues. "Since we have fumbled at least twice now on health care, to include it and make tax reform contingent on us getting across the finish line on health care, I wouldn't be in favor unless we can keep it on parallel tracks,"Meadows said.
The Hill:
Top Republican Nixes Idea Of Pairing ObamaCare Repeal With Tax Reform
Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) on Tuesday said Congress should move onto tax reform and not try to pair it with a new plan to repeal ObamaCare. Cornyn signaled the widespread GOP fear that adding a health-care debate to the tax bill will only bog down a reform package that is President Trump’s new top priority. (Bolton, 9/26)
The Hill:
Freedom Caucus Chair Opposes Combining Health Care, Tax Reform
House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) said Tuesday that he opposes trying to combine tax reform and ObamaCare repeal in a fast-track bill next year. Some Republicans are pushing to include instructions for ObamaCare repeal along with tax reform in the 2018 budget, allowing the GOP to keep alive their ability to pass repeal with just a simple majority and bypass a Democratic filibuster. (Sullivan, 9/26)