Facing Ultimatum and Division, House Republicans Plan to Vote on Health Bill
DOW JONES & COMPANY, INC. 10:56 AM ET 3/24/2017
House Republicans, facing an ultimatum from President Donald Trump , are poised to vote Friday on the GOP health plan despite signs that party divisions still threaten its chances.
The House chamber is expected to decide on the measure that topples key parts of the 2010 Affordable Care Act later in the afternoon, following hours of morning debate. After House GOP leaders canceled a vote on the bill Thursday over fears it lacked sufficient support to pass, Republican factions met late into the night, with Mr. Trump personally calling some members to pressure them for their support.
The House Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative Republicans, has largely remained resistant, rankling Mr. Trump. On Friday morning, the president reminded Republicans on Twitter that "this is finally your chance" to replace the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare for his predecessor Barack Obama, who signed it into law.
He also took aim at a caucus of House conservatives, pressing them to keep to their antiabortion bona fides by supporting the bill, which would ban Medicaid funding for one year to women's health organization Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Some of the group's clinics provide abortion services, which aren't funded by taxpayer dollars.
"The irony is that the Freedom Caucus, which is very pro-life and against Planned Parenthood, allows P.P. to continue if they stop this plan!" he tweeted.
Republicans have been deadlocked over the legislation, with the House Freedom Caucus, which controls more than 20 votes, winning concessions Thursday aimed at getting them on board. House GOP leaders added an amendment that would repeal a requirement under the Affordable Care Act that insurers provide policies that comply with federal minimum benefit standards, such as offering maternity and mental health care.
But that hardened opposition from some centrist GOP members who don't want to move too aggressively in toppling the ACA.
Signs of dissent have emerged over a fast vote on the bill even though a final analysis of its impact on coverage and the budget isn't available. Rep. Kevin Brady, chairman of the House's tax-writing committee, said in the House Rules Committee Friday it is an uncommon situation. That committee on Friday morning passed the bill, along with some last- minute amendments added Thursday night, and will be moving it to the House floor.
"It's unusual, but it's unusual for the right reasons," Mr. Brady, a Texas Republican, said. Mr. Brady said the bill won't just serve Washington. "It will serve every state in the nation about what's right for them...They will be surveying 50 states about what plans are right for them."
Thursday night's amendment also would add $15 billion in funding to help states pay for mental health and maternity care. The House Freedom Caucus met Thursday night after the amendments were added but some said they were still likely to oppose the legislation.
Republicans face intensifying criticism of their health plan in the wake of a Congressional Budget Office analysis Thursday. The report showed that with the latest changes, the legislation would reduce the federal deficit by $151 billion by 2026, compared with an earlier version that delivered a $337 billion deficit cut. It showed no meaningful change to the estimate that under the new bill, the number of Americans without health insurance would grow by 24 million people in the next decade, compared with conditions if the Affordable Care Act were allowed to stand.
Republicans can only afford to lose 22 votes for the House GOP leaders' bill to pass. Defeat would be a major blow to Mr. Trump's image as an influential negotiator because he has become heavily involved in rallying support. He has warned Republicans they could lose seats if they don't pass the bill and, and told them he will move on and leave the party stuck with the ACA if it dies in the House today.
Failure would also haunt House Speaker Paul Ryan, the driving force behind the bill, in his efforts to get through other agenda items such as tax reform.
"The bill that's before Congress is done," Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price said Friday on Fox News. " I think we're going to be able to get this bill done today and move forward."
Dr. Price, a former orthopedic surgeon, said he would continue to use administrative steps to roll back the ACA even if the legislation craters in the House. He said he doesn't expect a new CBO analysis before the vote.
Dr. Price said he hasn't had any conversations with Mr. Trump that indicate the president is regretting taking up the ACA quickly and pushing Mr. Ryan's plans.
House leaders had started Thursday with about 30 GOP members opposing the health proposal. The hope is that pushing it to a vote and casting that as a do-or-die moment will pressure resistant conservatives to change their minds.
If the measure does pass, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has vowed to take up the legislation swiftly in his chamber.
--Michelle Hackman contributed to this article.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
03-24-171056ET
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