Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
'Rendezvous With Destiny' Or Test Of Partisan Unity -- Where Do Representatives Stand?
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan Of Wisconsin Has A Lot Riding On House Health Plan Vote
Along with the vast political stakes for his party and president, the dramatic House showdown over health care is an acid test of Speaker Paul Ryan’s ability to deliver on the promise of unified Republican rule. ... Ryan is calling it his party’s “rendezvous with destiny.” But it is also the sternest measure by far of his 16-month-old tenure as speaker, and of his leadership style, salesmanship, deal-making skills and capacity to corral a GOP caucus united against Obamacare but divided over what should take its place. (Gilbert, 3/22)
Chicago Tribune: Most Illinois House Republicans Follow Party On Health Care
There were few signs Illinois' seven House Republicans will break ranks when their party's health care overhaul comes up for a historic vote Thursday, but some declined to tip their hands amid a frenzied, last-minute lobbying push on both sides of the debate. U.S. Reps. Adam Kinzinger of Channahon, Darin LaHood of Peoria and Rodney Davis of Taylorville, support the GOP bill to replace the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, aides said. (Skiba, 3/22)
Houston Chronicle: Two Austin Lawmakers Join GOP Push For Obamacare Repeal Bill
The last ditch effort to pass the Republicans' Obamacare replacement bill included two Texas lawmakers in a "Women in Healthcare" panel at the White House Wednesday. State Sens. Dawn Buckingham (R-Lakeway) and Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels), both physicians, met with President Donald Trump to rally support for the embattled legislation, which faces a close vote in the U.S. House on Thursday. ... A Chronicle survey of Texas Republicans in the U.S. House found more than a half-dozen conservatives who were still undecided Tuesday, as pressure groups on both sides have been lobbying overtime. (Diaz, 3/22)
Richmond Times-Dispatch: Where Do Virginia's 11 Members Of Congress Stand On The Health Care Bill?
A majority of Virginia’s 11-member delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives appear poised to vote “no” if the Republican health care bill reaches the floor for a vote today. If they vote “no” along with Virginia’s four Democrats, that would mean seven “no” votes from the state on the American Health Care Act. (Wilson, 3/22)
The Washington Post: Virginia Opposition To Health Care Bill Grows, But Rep. Comstock Still Mum
Rep. Barbara Comstock was not saying Wednesday how she planned to vote on the big legislative question looming before Congress: the GOP plan to remake the Affordable Care Act. And with good reason. The second-term Republican was in the hot seat — she is a lawmaker who represents a Northern Virginia district that voted for Hillary Clinton — but she is also an ally of Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), the architect of the House bill. (Portnoy, 3/22)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Jody Hice’s Rejection Of GOP Health Care Plan Could Help Sink Bill
Georgia Congressman Jody Hice is firmly against the Republican health care plan, one of at least two dozen reported GOP opponents who are imperiling the White House-backed legislation roughly 24 hours before the House is expected to vote on the proposal. The Monroe Republican said the current plan “doesn’t go far enough” to repeal Obamacare, despite recent changes leaders made to win over conservatives like him. (Hallerman, 3/22)
Des Moines Register: King Lone 'Yes' Vote On Health Care Bill Among Iowa's House Members
With a key vote looming Thursday, Iowa’s entire congressional delegation has staked out positions on the Republican health care proposal aimed at repealing and replacing Obamacare. Three Iowa members, U.S. Reps. David Young, Rod Blum and Dave Loebsack — two Republicans and a Democrat — have announced they oppose the measure and will vote “no” on Thursday. The delegation's other Republican, U.S. Rep. Steve King, says he will support the bill. (Noble, 3/22)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Perdue, Isakson Shun The Health Care Spotlight Ahead Of House Nail-Biter
At a time when their House colleagues are in the hot seat on health care, Georgia’s two senators are studiously avoiding the spotlight – for now. Republican Sens. David Perdue and Johnny Isakson have both sounded positive notes about their party’s plan for repealing and replacing Obamacare, but neither has said definitively whether they’ll back or shun the plan as-is. (Hallerman, 3/22)
Miami Herald: Scramble For GOP Healthcare Votes Puts Cuba Policy In Play
The showdown in Congress over House Republicans’ healthcare bill might have nothing to do with Raúl Castro — if it weren’t for Miami. Thursday’s planned vote on the American Health Care Act is so razor tight that House GOP leaders and the White House are leaning hard on every single shaky Republican for their support. One of them: Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Miami, whose foremost want is to overturn the Obama administration’s Cuba opening — and who has recently taken it upon himself to outline a possible Cuba policy for the Trump administration. (Mazzei and Gamez Torres, 3/22)
Texas Tribune: Texas Republicans Divided As Health Care Overhaul Is In Peril
In the dawn-to-dusk fight over repealing the law that served as a central campaign issue for Republicans over the past four election cycles, Pelosi's troops were in lockstep behind her — all House Democrats oppose repeal. Instead, the fight is among Republicans; allies of House leadership are trying to pass the bill, while hardline conservatives, many of whom are members of a group called the Freedom Caucus, are trying to stymie it. Many in Congress — including at least one Texas Republican House member who asked not to be named — predict that if the bill reaches the House floor Thursday, it will fail. (Livingston, 3/22)
Austin American-Statesman: Texas Senators Meet Trump For Health Care Discussion
Two Texas state senators, both physicians, took part Wednesday in a White House panel on women in health care — attended by President Donald Trump — in preparation for Thursday’s U.S. House vote on the Republican plan to replace Obamacare. ... In a phone interview with the American-Statesman, [Dawn] Buckingham said she spoke about “the failed experiment of Obamacare,” including personal insurance coverage she lost and patients who sought care elsewhere because of the Affordable Care Act. (Lindell, 3/22)
Indianapolis Star: Gov. Eric Holcomb Backs GOP Health Care Bill That Cuts Medicaid Funding
Gov. Eric Holcomb on Wednesday backed a GOP alternative to the Affordable Care Act that would significantly reduce Medicaid spending, the source of two-thirds of federal funding received by Indiana for a program used by about 1 in 5 Hoosiers. ... Nearly all of Indiana’s eight GOP members of Congress have said they will vote for the bill. Rep. Trey Hollingsworth,R-Jeffersonville, and Republican Sen. Todd Young have not taken a position. (Groppe, 3/22)
