Rothfus surveys constituents on health care
WASHINGTON — Just hours from a House roll call where every vote counts, the normally decisive U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus sought counsel from constituents.
Mr. Rothfus, R-Sewickley, on Wednesday sent a twoquestion survey to people who signed up for his legislative e-mail list.
“I want to know your position on the efforts of President [Donald] Trump and Republicans in Congress to improve health care for the American people. As we work to craft solutions, however, we want to hear from you,” he wrote.
Two questions follow: “Do you support the newly proposed American Health Care Act?” and “What do you want to happen to the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)?” The latter offers multiple choice responses of “keep in place as is,” “keep but make some changes,” “keep but change significantly” or “just repeal.”
Republicans would be hard pressed to do anything but repeal it after years of promises to repeal the law. And Democrats say if they wanted to change it they’ve had more than seven years to propose amendments.
Mr. Rothfus has been a consistent opponent of the Affordable Care Act, calling it unworkable. In a Post-Gazette op-ed last month he said, “We have no choice but to scrap this failed program and replace it with a system that gives Pennsylvanians access to the care they need, at a price they can afford and from a doctor they choose.”
Does the GOP’s American Health Care Act fit the bill? Mr. Rothfus hasn’t said. The congressman’s spokeswoman wasn’t available.
GOP leaders have been working on changes meant to sweeten the bill enough to persuade numerous Republicans from Pennsylvania and across the country to vote for it. With all Democrats expected to vote no, Republicans need 22 votes in the House, and that’s looking to be a tough hurdle.
“We’ve looked very carefully to include a broad range of improvements provided by the broad range of our Republicans — from rural to the cities to Indian communities to metropolitan areas — in ways we can help cover more people with affordable health care and give them more choices,” Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, RTexas, said during a Rules Committee meeting Wednesday.
Republicans are under no illusion that the bill they will vote on Thursday — whether it passes or fails — will become law. “I assume the Senate will continue the improvement process as we hand this ball to them,” Mr. Brady said.
The latest changes to the bill would eliminate the mandate to purchase health care, which was a central tenet of President Barack Obama’s signature domestic policy achievement. It would do so by ending tax penalties for businesses and individuals who don’t buy coverage. It also would convert needbased subsidies to age-based tax credits, fund (and likely shrink) Medicaid through a block-grant system and would end taxes paid by insurance companies and top earners. It would allow insurance companies to charge a 30 percent penalty on people who allow coverage to lapse, and would allow them to charge up to five times more for older people than younger ones.
Changes leaders made this week would give states more flexibility in their Medicaid programs, including instituting work requirements for recipients. Meanwhile, no additional states would be allowed to opt into the Medicaid expansion program that added coverage for 70,000 people.
The Freedom Caucus, a group of House GOP’s most conservative members, is threatening to block the bill because it fails to reduce insurance premiums. A spokesman told The Hill newspaper that 25 of its members remain opposed.
Mr. Rothfus is a former member of the Freedom Caucus, but quit after the last Congress, citing a preference to tend to substantive policy work rather than the procedural mechanisms the group often uses to exert influence. He said at the time that his ideology remains in line with the caucus.
Several Pennsylvania Republicans have come out against the bill, including Glenn Thompson of Center County; Brian Fitzpatrick of Bucks County; Scott Perry of York County; and Lou Barletta of Hazleton.
Others, including Tim Murphy of Upper St. Clair and Mike Kelly of Butler, have said they plan to vote in favor.