Back me or you’re fired

US President Donald Trump has warned wavering House Republicans their jobs are on the line in next year’s elections if they fail to back a bill that would up-end Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act.

Mr Trump told a Republican Congressional Committee fundraiser the American people had delivered Republicans the House, Senate and White House with an expectation they would deliver.

“These are the conservative solutions we campaign on and these are the conservative solutions the American people asked us, as a group, to deliver,” he said.

Mr Trump (right) said Thursday’s vote on legislation undoing Obamacare was “crucial” for the party and the American people.

“I think we’re going to have some great surprises,” he added. “I hope that it’s going to all work out.” The GOP bill would scale back the role of government in the private health insurance market, and limit future federal financing for Medicaid. It would repeal tax increases on the wealthy that Democrats used to pay for Mr Obama’s coverage expansion. “If we fail to get it done, fail to (meet) the promises made by all of us, including the President, then it could have a very detrimental effect to Republicans in ’ 18 who are running for re-election,” Republican Congressman Mike Conaway said.

“If it fails, then there will be a lot of people looking for work in 2018.”

The bill’s outlook remains dicey. A senior administration official said the White House is trying to persuade about 20 to 25 House Republicans who are either opposed or undecided. Mr Trump can afford to lose only 21. If the bill advances, prospects are uncertain in the Senate, where Republicans hold a slim majority. Six GOP senators have expressed deep misgivings.

Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell signalled he’d use Mr Trump’s clout to pressure unhappy Republicans in his chamber.

“I would hate to be a Republican whose vote prevented us from keeping the commitment we’ve made to the American people for almost 10 years now,” he said.