Republican lawmakers are reviewing their positions on the Republican leadership’s American Health Care Act (AHCA), after last minute changes attempting to satisfy undecided and opposed members were announced just hours before an expected floor vote on Friday.
The change, specifically targeting Freedom Caucus opposition, grants states the ability to determine in 2018 whether they will leave the Affordable Care Act’s Essential Health Benefits insurance requirements intact or not. It might bring enough conservative holdouts on board to pass the bill.
But it could also push away enough moderate lawmakers to end its chances in the House and could complicate the reconciliation process in the Senate, which is constrained by the so-called Byrd Rule.
Ways and Means Chairman Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) was optimistic the changes will be enough to push the bill over the top:
“For many of them this was a key proposed solution. I think all of us are hopeful that members across the spectrum will vote yes for this.”
Either way, at least a dozen Freedom Caucus members are expected to vote against it despite the concessions.
HFC Chairman Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) confirmed to Independent Journal Review he was still planning on voting no after Thursday evening’s Republican Party conference meeting.
He was markedly less certain about it a few hours later.
After discussing the changes with other members of the Freedom Caucus, Meadows declined to answer questions from reporters. “I’m not confident in anything right now. All I’m confident on is I’m going home to go to bed,” he said.
Pressed once more, Meadows pleaded, “All I want is to go to bed.” It was close to midnight. The reporters wanted to go to bed, too.
His press secretary told IJR that Meadows would be reviewing the changes before tomorrow’s vote. Meadows has said the concessions the GOP leadership was willing to make on Essential Health Benefits (EHB) would not be substantial enough to sway him — or the rest of those opposed to AHCA in the Freedom Caucus, for that matter.
HFC members might be more willing to take what they can get on EHB than they previously let on, though. Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) was opposed to the bill on Wednesday yet will vote in favor of it on Friday because of the changes.
“That’s a big deal,” he said of the Essential Health Benefits concessions. “It takes it back to the states.”
Another Freedom Caucus member expressed his support for the alterations after the meeting as well. Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas) said, “The EHB sounded real good to me.”
He told reporters he would not reveal how he plans to vote on the bill. A few minutes later, when asked if he expects the bill to pass in the House on Friday, Babin casually responded, “I hope it does.”
Other lawmakers were unpersuaded, however. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) told IJR bluntly, “It’s still a ‘hell no.’”
HFC member Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas) indicated he was opposed to the bill despite the GOP leadership’s efforts.
Late Thursday night, he launched into a critique of President Donald Trump’s negotiation tactics, asking reporters, “It’s [Trump’s] way or the highway? What kind of a precedent does that set for a president? So the Congress has to roll over now because this is the way it’s going to be?”
“’Take it or leave it,’” he scoffed. “What kind of a statement is that?”
Weber left the Caucus meeting early, but on his way out he took note of the subject of discussion. The group was talking about the moderate lawmakers who plan to vote against the bill and could tip the scales, ending its chances when combined with current HFC opposition votes.
Many have expressed discontent with new provisions related to Medicaid — policies like moving the Affordable Care Act’s expansion rollback to an earlier date, introducing block grants, and including work requirements for able-bodied adults on the program — added to the legislation in order to curry favor with conservative members earlier in the week.
The Center for American Progress counted 16 moderate lawmakers who pledged to vote against the bill as of Thursday morning — though the whip count is subject to change before Friday’s vote.
Only 22 Republicans are needed to vote against the AHCA to kill it in the House.
Brady asserts other provisions in the updated manager’s amendment—like $15 billion more in funding for the Patient and State Stability Fund—will placate the concerns of moderate members.
It is uncertain if those additions will be enough to bring moderates back on board, especially considering the ongoing influx of constituent calls urging lawmakers to vote down the health care plan when it comes to the floor Friday.
Rep. Weber speculated of the bill, “If you’ve got 13 or 15 Freedom Caucus and 15 more moderate votes … I guess it’s toast.”
“So stay tuned,” he said. “It’s a high stakes game.”
Source:ijr.com