Repeal-And-Replace Plan Starts To Move Through House, Emerges As Critical Test For Trump
The proposal cleared its first hurdle when it was approved by the U.S. House Ways & Means Committee, but the process was acrimonious -- marked by Democratic efforts to slow its progress. Meanwhile Republican leaders, including President Donald Trump, work to unify support within the part for the Obamacare replacement legislation.
The New York Times:
Health Bill Clears House Panel In Pre-Dawn Hours
The critical House Ways and Means Committee gave a pre-dawn approval Thursday morning to a major part of the Republican plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, moving Republicans a step closer toward a full vote on the measure over the growing opposition of senators, health care providers and some conservatives. Republicans on the panel held together and rejected a slew of Democratic amendments while doing little on their own to change the health bill. (Kaplan, Goodnough and Steinhauer, 3/9)
Los Angeles Times:
GOP Leaders Turn Up The Pressure On Reluctant Republicans To Support Obamacare Replacement
[House Speaker Paul] Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) are trying to build momentum to fast-track the legislation past a groundswell of opposition from Democrats, small-government conservatives, moderate Republicans and healthcare groups who have created an unlikely coalition against it. (Mascaro and Levey, 3/8)
San Francisco Chronicle:
GOP Health Care Bill Is Critical 1st Test For Trump
As conservatives revolt over Republican health care legislation, President Trump faces a crucial first test of his presidency: Can he translate his bully pulpit and popularity with conservative voters into a legislative win? For Trump, it is a new arena five rocky weeks into his presidency. Thus far the accomplishments he has notched have been carried out via executive authority or appointments ratified by the Senate, often overshadowed by self-inflicted distraction. (Werner and Thomas, 3/8)
Politico:
Trump's Obamacare Fallback: Blame The Democrats
In a private Oval Office meeting with conservative activists Wednesday, President Donald Trump sold Paul Ryan's health care bill as strong and necessary. But minutes later, his top aides offered some willingness to consider changing some of the core provisions, even as Trump himself suggested a fallback position — that they could try again in two years, and Obamacare will fail on its own, leaving Democrats to take the blame. In other words, Trump was ready to deal. (Dawsey and Bade, 3/8)
And the role of Congressional Budget Office in the replacement debate comes into question —
The Washington Post:
Lawmakers Take Up Obamacare Revision Without An Independent Scorekeeper
You might think of it as the legislative equivalent of flying into a storm without instruments. Two committees in the Republican-led House have begun drafting sweeping health legislation without the benefit of an objective estimate of its impact from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) — a reckless move, critics say, considering that they are dealing with the well-being of tens of millions of Americans and an industry that accounts for close to one-fifth of the economy. (Tumulty and Ehrenfreund, 3/8)
The Associated Press:
Fact Check: White House Overly Downbeat About Budgeteers
President Donald Trump’s spokesman went out of his way to cast doubt on Congress’ budget experts, perhaps anticipating disappointing results from a coming cost analysis of a Trump-backed plan to “repeal and replace” former President Barack Obama’s health care law. Too far out of his way. Citing the Congressional Budget Office’s earlier estimates on the Obama law, spokesman Sean Spicer said Wednesday, “If you’re looking at the CBO for accuracy, you’re looking in the wrong place.” (Taylor, 3/9)