House Republicans floundering on Obamacare repeal
Nearly 20 Republicans have announced their opposition, leaving virtually no room for error.
By RACHAEL BADE , KYLE CHENEY and JOHN BRESNAHAN 05/02/17 10:35 AM EDT Updated 05/02/17 12:34 PM EDT
House Republicans and the White House kicked off the week thinking they’d finally pass their Obamacare repeal bill. By Tuesday morning, their legislation was once again on life support.
Key GOP leadership allies are dropping their support, sending Speaker Paul Ryan and his team, as well as the Trump administration, into full-fledged damage-control mode.
Former Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton — who once authored numerous repeal bills — said he was against the proposal Tuesday, a day after longtime Donald Trump supporter Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.) came out in opposition. Long even rebuffed the president’s personal plea to back the bill in a phone call Monday.
Upton (R-Mich.), like Long and a host of other critics of the legislation, said the GOP health care alternative “torpedoes” protections for people with preexisting conditions. GOP insiders on the Hill and in the White House know they cannot lose someone like Upton and still expect to pass the bill. Upton’s defection will give more undecided moderates and traditional Republicans cover to bail.
“I told the leadership I cannot support this bill with this provision in it,” Upton said on a local Michigan radio program, referring to what could happen to people with medical histories. “I know there are a good number of us who have raised real red flags and concerns. It is not going to get my 'yes' vote the way it is.”
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http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/02/republicans-obamacare-repeal-votes-237871