Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
House Republicans Sidestep Negative Aspects Of Report, Focus On The Positive
USA Today: CBO: House Obamacare Repeal Will Increase Uninsured By 23 Million
Many House Republicans avoided specifics of the analysis and instead focused on the overall picture which was "that the American Health Care Act achieves our mission: lowering premiums and lowering the deficit," House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said. “We’re on a rescue mission, and today’s CBO report reinforces what we’ve said before — our American Health Care Act will lower premiums and reduce the deficit," said House Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash. "The CBO report doesn’t tell the whole story when it comes to the benefits of this bill, but we’re one step closer to keeping our promise to repeal and replace Obamacare." (Collins, 5/24)
Separately, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis) acknowledges the party will face attacks over health care —
Roll Call: Ryan On GOP Health Care Bill: ‘We Will Get Hit For This’
Speaker Paul D. Ryan is acutely aware that Republicans will be attacked over the health care bill that his chamber passed a few weeks ago, but the Wisconsin Republican felt that inaction was not an option. “I’ll accept that we will get hit for this,” Ryan said Wednesday at an Axios’ News Shapers event. “But we’re in leadership. We don’t have a choice. … What are we supposed to do, just sit back and let this thing collapse?” The speaker has consistently made the case that the 2010 health care law is collapsing and it’s incumbent upon Republicans to fulfill their campaign promise to repeal and replace it. (McPherson, 5/25)
