President Trump’s team delivered a final ultimatum to House Republicans Thursday night, saying they’ll make one more round of changes to the health bill, then hold a final vote — and if it fails, they’re done.
President Trump ’s team delivered a final ultimatum to House Republicans Thursday night, saying they’ll make one more round of changes to the health bill, then hold a final vote — and if it fails, they’re done.
Hours after the GOP had to put off a vote, in a black eye for Mr. Trump and House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, Republicans held a confab and said they’ll try again.
But if Friday’s vote fails, Mr. Trump is prepared to move on to other issues, letting Obamacare remain in place.
SEE ALSO: House GOP to vote Friday on Obamacare repeal after delay
“We have to have a vote tomorrow,” Rep. Chris Collins said as he emerged from a House GOP meeting Thursday night, recounting the message of Mr. Trump ’s aides. “He expects it to pass. But he’s moving on if for some reason it doesn’t.”
The last-minute changes included zeroing out Obamacare’s essential health benefits, which was the mandate requiring all plans to cover maternity care, prescription drugs and mental health services. Conservatives said those mandates made customers pay for care they may never need.
GOP leaders also said they will keep one of Obamacare’s taxes on high-income workers for six more years, freeing up $15 billion to add to a fund designed to help states cover sicker consumers.
The changes may have won over some conservatives. Several lawmakers said members of the hardline House Freedom Caucus stood up in the meeting Thursday night and declared their support, saying it was the best deal they’d get.
But moderates said the changes didn’t help them, and several who were already opposed said they remain in the “no” category.
One moderate, Rep. Dan Donovan of New York, doubted the White House’s insistence that this would be the last bite at Obamacare for Republicans.
But Mr. Collins said Mr. Trump ’s aides were clear.
“There were folks who thought we could negotiate additional changes. It’s loud and clear tonight, this will be a one-and-done, up-or-down [vote],” said Rep. Chris Collins, New York Republican and a Trump backer. “If it’s down, were done.”
If the bill does clear the House, it would still have to survive the Senate, where Republicans are just as divided.
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