‘Health’ vote due today

House GOP confident

The House will hold a vote Thursday on a bill to repeal and replace ObamaCare, with the Republican majority “optimistic” it can deliver a legislative victory for President Trump.

Still, some Republicans were wary of the political risk of backing a measure that would strip millions of Americans of their health insurance and that might not even survive a bruising battle in the Senate.

“We will pass this bill,” House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) predicted after a day of wrangling votes with help from Trump, who swayed some moderate Republicans by agreeing to an $8 billion component to ensure those with pre-existing conditions don’t face gaps in their coverage or higher premiums.

Pressed by reporters as he exited a meeting in House Speaker Paul Ryan’s office, McCarthy insisted, “We’re gonna pass it! We’re gonna pass it! Let’s be optimistic about life!”

When the health bill does come to a vote, it will be with- out an updated analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office about its cost and effect.

“Forcing a vote without a CBO score shows that Republicans are terrified of the public learning the full consequences of their plan,” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Wednesday.

“But tomorrow, House Republicans are going to tattoo this moral monstrosity to their foreheads, and the American people will hold them accountable.”

Should the bill advance to the Senate, Minority Leader Charles Schumer is warning it will go nowhere.

“To my moderate Republican colleagues in the House, I ask, ‘Why would you risk a yes vote for a bill that is devastating to your constituents and has virtually a minuscule chance, virtually no chance of becoming law?’ ” he asked.

But Rep. Raul Labrador (RIdaho) said, “I have a feeling that we can actually improve it. You have people like [Utah Sen.] Mike Lee who are going to work for some good conservative solutions in the Senate.”