Republicans Get Second Wind On Replacement, But Set No Definitive Timeline This Go-Round
House Republicans are pressing leadership to not give up on repeal and replace, but many know they face long odds. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump, at a bipartisan event held out the White House, said he expects everyone to be able to reach a deal "very quickly."
The New York Times:
Repeal Of Affordable Care Act Is Back On Agenda, Republicans Say
Under extreme pressure from conservative activists, House Republican leaders and the White House have restarted negotiations on legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act. But efforts to revive the legislation in the House could take weeks, lawmakers conceded, as Congress moves forward with a full plate of other time-consuming issues. And the renewed push did not meet with much enthusiasm from Senate Republicans, who said they had other priorities at the moment. (Pear and Peters, 3/28)
The Associated Press:
Ryan Says House To Revisit Health Care, Offers No Details
Speaker Paul Ryan said Tuesday he's going to give battered House Republicans another crack at a health care overhaul. But he offered no timeline, and leaders haven't resolved how to overcome the deep GOP divisions that crumpled their legislation last week in a humiliating retreat for themselves and President Donald Trump. (Fram, 3/28)
USA Today:
House Republicans Say They Are Still Negotiating Obamacare Repeal
After the failure of the bill and some weekend reflection, Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows, R-N.C., and his caucus are trying to do things differently. The group is working with leadership and moderate Republicans to try to bring back the bill in a different form. Meadows had a meeting with Ryan on Tuesday, which was unusual because the Freedom Caucus had largely gone around leadership during the negotiation process and dealt directly with the White House. (Collins, 3/28)
The Washington Post:
House GOP Has High Hopes, But Not High Likelihood, Of Reviving Health-Care Bill
White House press secretary Sean Spicer on Tuesday acknowledged talks but no imminent plans for reviving the bill. “Have we had some discussions and listened to ideas? Yes,” he told reporters. “Are we actively planning an immediate strategy? Not at this time.” (DeBonis, 3/28)
Politico:
GOP On Reviving Obamacare Repeal: Lots Of Talk, No Action
[L]awmakers and aides acknowledge the odds are not in their favor. The conference is still deeply divided, and members are seething over the demise of their replacement bill — with most fingers pointing at members of the arch-conservative Freedom Caucus. During a meeting with several dozen whips Monday night, Republican allies of leadership vented about how they want to punish members of the conservative group who “don’t play with the team.” (Bade, Cheney and Bresnahan, 3/28)
Politico:
Trump Tells Senators: We Can Deal On Health Care ‘Very Quickly’
President Donald Trump still sees a deal on health care. In fact, he told senators he has “no doubt that that’s going to happen very quickly.” Speaking in brief remarks at a White House reception for senators and their spouses, Trump brushed off the recent collapse of a House-led bill to repeal and replace Obamacare. (Jackson, 3/28)
The Associated Press:
Senate, White House Pass On House Push To Revive Health Bill
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., made his views clear after a closed-door lunch with fellow Senate Republicans and Vice President Mike Pence. "It's pretty obvious we were not able, in the House, to pass a replacement. Our Democratic friends ought to be pretty happy about that because we have the existing law in place, and I think we're just going to have to see how that works out," McConnell said. "We believe it will not work out well, but we'll see." (Werner, 3/28)
Politico:
Trump Could Blow Up Obamacare With One Move
President Trump says that Obamacare is going to explode. But if that happens, it is likely because his administration supplies the spark that detonates the marketplaces. The White House could decide at any time to eliminate subsidies relied upon by insurers to lower costs for Obamacare’s poorest customers, as a result of a court win by House Republicans last spring. (Demko, 3/29)
The Wall Street Journal:
After GOP Health Bill’s Demise, More States Weigh Expanding Medicaid
A growing number of states are considering expanding their Medicaid programs under the Affordable Care Act, after last week’s abrupt collapse of the GOP health bill and a development that could make it harder for Republicans to undo the law in the future. (Armour, 3/28)