If health-care bill fails, will Trump exact revenge?

NEW YORK — Hardline House Republicans considering voting against the House GOP health bill are bracing for payback from a president who claims his favorite biblical passage is “an eye for an eye.” Many appear ready to risk it.

The scheduled rollcall vote today for the bill backed by President Donald Trump is a crucial first test of whether Republicans are willing to defy a president who has bragged about never forgetting a slight.

A group of breakaway Republicans, including several members of the deeply conservative House Freedom Caucus, on Wednesday remained unbowed, taking comfort in the political safety they feel in their home districts.

Still, members are well aware they face possible primary threats if they vote against the bill.

White House chief strategist Steve Bannon told holdout lawmakers Wednesday: “You all have to vote for this. … I know you don’t like it, but you have to vote for this,” according to several representatives. The comment came after Trump said Tuesday that “many of you will lose your seats in 2018” if Republicans don’t pass a health-care bill.

“They know,” said Rep. Steve Stivers of Upper Arlington, head of the National Republican Congressional Committee, of the primary threats. Stivers said he’s heard Trump “say things privately” about retaliating against those who oppose the measure. “Every member has their own calculations they have to look at,” he said.

Most of the GOP novoters represent safely Republican seats — some drawn to ensure they stay that way — and whose grip on power would only be threatened by a primary challenger. Among them is Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, who was re-elected in November with 71 percent of the vote.

Massie tweeted Wednesday that he’d switched his vote from “no” to “hell no.”

Trump has long touted his ability at dishing out payback. He once warned that he would fund a super-PAC solely dedicated to defeating Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who never endorsed Trump. He also interjected himself into a state-level race to oust Kasich’s handpicked Ohio state party chairman.

And last week in Michigan, he turned to Republican Gov. Rick Snyder during a feel-good photo op to note that Snyder never endorsed him.

“I never forget,” Trump said.