Pence and House Republicans rush to resurrect repeal
Lawmakers work to revise health bill before Friday’s recess
USA TODAY WASHINGTON House Republicans are scrambling to resurrect last month’s failed health care bill before a two-week congressional recess that starts Friday, and Vice President Pence shuttles back and forth from Capitol Hill as part of the negotiations.
House Speaker Paul Ryan canceled a vote last month on a bill that would have replaced Obamacare because there was not enough Republican support to pass it. Freedom Caucus members argued the bill did not go far enough in repealing the law, while moderates were concerned it would boost costs and reduce coverage, particularly for the elderly and the poor.
Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., who chairs the conservative House Freedom Caucus, said Tuesday that Pence and top aides came to the group’s meeting Monday night and pitched a revised plan.
According to Meadows, the White House is considering letting Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price give states the option to waive certain insurance requirements. Governors would be allowed to eliminate “essential health benefits” — the Obamacare requirement that insurance plans include things such as maternity care and substance abuse coverage — as well as the requirement that insurers provide reasonably priced coverage to people with pre-existing health conditions.
Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks, a Freedom Caucus member, said that if Pence’s additions were made, he’d support the legislation.
“After mtg with @VP, I’ll vote for the American Health Care Act if a States Rights’ amendment is added to the bill,” he tweeted Tuesday.
Most conservatives said they couldn’t commit to a deal until they see legislation, and it was not clear late Tuesday when text of a bill would be circulated.
“What we need to get to ‘yes’ is the same thing I said last night,” Meadows said. “We will have to review the text and look at it and see what it does and what it doesn’t do.”
“It’s encouraging, but I’ve gotta see the language,” said Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa.
George M. Cecala, a spokesman for Rep. Bill Posey, R-Fla., of the Freedom Caucus said the congressman was “intrigued” by the pitch.
The proposal is intended to get conservatives on board with the legislation. It is not clear whether moderates will leave in the process.
Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y., is a member of the moderate Tues- day Group, but he’s also a close ally of President Trump and supported the previous version of the bill.
Monday, he went to the White House for a meeting with Pence and other top aides.
Collins said the state flexibility probably would not affect New York because “in our state health commission, we have the Cadillac of everything.”
He said he wasn’t sure whether the proposed changes to the bill would lose more votes than they attracted.
“Well, clearly that would be a plus to the Freedom Caucus, and I would say clearly, it would be of concern to the Tuesday Group,” Collins said. “Plus, I’m not sure this is a done deal, either.”
Because no Democrats are likely to vote for any Obamacare repeal bill, Republicans can lose only 20 votes in their own party and still pass a bill.