GOP Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick says he can't support Obamacare repeal in current form
Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick said Sunday that he cannot support the GOPs plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act in its current form, making the Bucks County freshman the first Republican from the Philadelphia area to definitively say he would vote against the legislation as it stands now.
His position deals a blow to GOP leaders hopes of passing their repeal of Obamacare through the House of Representatives as soon as Thursday. With Democrats uniformly opposed the plan, Republicans can afford to lose no more than 21 votes in the House, and their proposal has caught flak from both conservatives and moderates.
After considering the current healthcare bill in a thorough and deliberate manner, I have concluded that, although the American Health Care Act focuses on several much-needed reforms to our healthcare system, in its current form I cannot support this legislation, Fitzpatrick said in a statement, referring to the plan crafted by Speaker Paul Ryan. I have many concerns with this bill, and first among them is the impact on the single most important issue plaguing Bucks and Montgomery Counties, and the issue that I have made my priority in Congress: opioid abuse prevention, treatment and recovery.
Link: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/GOP-Rep-Brian-Fitzpatrick-says-he-wont-support-Obamacare-repeal-in-current-form.html