Frankie Cordeira Jr.

Description: Key GOP lawmakers flip on health care after Trump meeting... Republican Rep. Fred Upton an influential lawmaker in the health care debate is finalizing an amendment to the Republican bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act that could move him from a "no" vote to a "yes." Upton and Republicans Reps. Billy Long Greg Walden and Michael Burgess are meeting Wednesday morning with Trump at the White House a GOP source said. Upton rocked Capitol Hill on Tuesday by publicly coming out against the GOP health care bill for which House Republican leaders still do not have enough votes. But his work on the new amendment looks poised to move the Michigan congressman to the "yes" column at a crucial moment when every vote counts. The amendment would add $8 billion over five years to fund high-risk pools and go toward patients with pre-existing conditions in states that seek waivers under the Republican legislation two sources told CNN. The President called about a dozen wavering Republican lawmakers throughout the day on Tuesday urging them to back the health care bill a White House official said. It's very much an open question though how helpful this may be because the President often is suggesting on some calls he's more open to changing the bill to win over moderates each call creating a new dynamic. But he is urging them to pass the bill declare victory and move on for now. The details of the Upton amendment settled on Tuesday night and the House Energy and Commerce committee is now offering technical drafting guidance so that his idea can become legislative text a committee source added. The source cautioned however that as of Wednesday morning the amendment had not been finalized. And the biggest question is whether this amendment could bring on board additional "no" Republicans -- and how many. The future of the bill "as uncertain as we've seen it" a Republican involved in the health care talks said. How to handle coverage for Americans with pre-existing conditions has been a struggle for Republicans seeking to fulfill their longstanding desire to repeal Obamacare. A major pillar of the law is the ban on insurance companies from discriminating against people based on their past medical conditions. For decades prior to the enactment of the Affordable Care Act many Americans were unable to even afford or obtain insurance because of their past medical history. As Obamacare has shifted that norm Republicans have grown increasingly careful in recent years to say they would not repeal protections for people with pre-existing conditions wary of being branded the party that wants to take that protection away. Upton cited the issue as his reason not to back the current measure. "From day one I've supported the rights of those with pre-existing illnesses to be covered and in my view this undermines that effort and I can't be a part of it" Upton told reporters Tuesday explaining his decision to vote against the current bill. "Yes there are ways to fix it. But the proposal that's on the table now doesn't work." CNN's Dan Berman and Melissa Giaimo contributed to this report.
By Frankie Cordeira Jr.
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