Frankie Cordeira Jr.

Description: REPUBLICANS STUCK ON OBAMACARE Reps. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Billy Long (R-Mo.) on Wednesday said they would support the GOPs ObamaCare repeal-and-replace bill with the addition of an amendment giving the effort new momentum as GOP leaders push toward a floor vote. The two Republicans made the announcement at the White House after meeting with President Trump. "I think it is likely now to pass the House Upton said. But Upton added hes not on the whip team and cant definitively say there are enough votes for it to pass. Both Upton and Long had dealt a setback to the healthcare measure earlier this week when they came out against it saying it failed to protect people with pre-existing conditions. The new amendment from Upton would provide $8 billion over five years to help people with pre-existing conditions afford their premiums in states that are granted a waiver from ObamaCares protections. The liberal Center for American Progress estimated on Tuesday that the high-risk pools are underfunded by much more: $200 billion over 10 years. The GOP bill already includes $130 billion over 10 years which was not swaying many moderates as of Tuesday. Upton himself said on Tuesday afternoon that more money for the high-risk pools does not do the trick but appears to have had a change of heart on Wednesday. GOP leaders are whipping aggressively in favor of the healthcare bill in hopes of holding a vote before a one-week recess. Upton said votesin the House Rules Committee which would set up debate of the bill on the floor could be held as soon asThursday. If the House votes on the bill this week there would not be time for a new Congressional Budget Office analysis of Upton's changes or of an amendment from Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-N.J.) that won over the House Freedom Caucus. The MacArthur amendment set off moderates' concerns in the first place. It allows states to waive ObamaCare protections that prevent people from being charged higher premiums based on their health. If those were repealed insurers could go back to charging exorbitant premiums to sick people which could put coverage out of reach for many. Supporters of the bill argue high-risk pools could fill the gap and note that people with pre-existing conditions would still be protected if they had no gaps in coverage. It is not immediately clear how many other moderates Uptons changes will sway. Centrist Reps. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.) and Ryan Costello (R-Pa.) said Wednesday they are still opposed to the bill even after the changes. Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.) said in a statement Wednesday he could support the bill if House leadership will work to tighten protections for those with pre-existing conditions. But in a key development for Republican leaders the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus has indicated it will continue to back the bill with the Upton amendment as long as it contains only additional funds and no policy changes. On conservative host Hugh Hewitt's radio show Wednesday SpeakerPaul Ryan(R-Wis.) praised Upton's efforts calling his amendment something that "nobody has a problem with." "Fred Upton identified something he thinks will make the bill better" Ryan said. "What we're doing is listening to our members finding where that sweet spot of consensus is and driving there." Illustrating the pressure from the White House Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney called for a vote on Fox News Wednesday morning. Mulvaney said that if he were Speaker of the House "Id probably go to the floor today because its just that close." The healthcare legislation was abruptly pulled from the House floor in late March after it became clear that a planned vote would have failed. The underlying bill also has several provisions some moderates object to such as deep Medicaid cuts. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the overall legislation would result in 24 million more people becoming uninsured over a decade. Democrats and some health policy experts have also raised concerns that $8 billion will not be enough to cover everyone with pre-existing conditions who would lose their insurance coverage. But Trump is hungry for a major legislative achievement after not securing one during his first 100 days in office and the White House is in full court press to rally support behind the healthcare plan. After announcing he was a no vote Long said Trump called him multiple times to plead for his support. "The president said 'Billy we really need you we need you man the congressman said. Upton said he and Long went to the White House to sell Trump on their amendment. The Michigan lawmaker said during their meeting heread Trumphis comments during a Bloomberg News interview in which he said the health bill will be every bit as good on pre-existing conditions as ObamaCare." I want him to keep that pledge Upton said. This amendment allows that to happen. - Scott Wong contributed.
By Frankie Cordeira Jr.
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