Republicans forced to decide on healthcare
Hours before the US House of Representatives began voting on a legislation repealing and replacing Obamacare, President Donald Trump tried one last time to persuade a group of hardright Republicans lawmakers whose continued recalcitrance has set up the first major test of his famed deal-making abilities.
A Friday tweet addressed the Freedom Caucus — a group of about three dozen Republicans — arguing if would they rather continue with Obamacare. With Democrats aligned against the American Health Care Act, Republicans cannot afford the defection of more than 22 members.
Trump has tried a mix of personal charm and threats to bring them around, but on Thursday he despatched an aide to tell the holdouts he was done negotiating and that it was time to vote and choose between continuing with a law they have railed against for seven years and his plan, no matter how imperfect it seems.