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Trump Gives Republicans an Ultimatum: Pass Healthcare Bill or He’ll Move On

Amanda Casanova

President Trump told House Republicans Thursday they had two choices: They could either vote to approve a proposal that would repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act or reject it and Trump will move on to other issues.

If the measure fails to pass in the House, it would be a defeat for Trump and Obamacare would remain.

“Disastrous #Obamacare has led to higher costs & fewer options. It will only continue to get worse! We must #RepealANDReplace. #PassTheBill,” Trump tweeted Thursday night.

According to The Washington Post, “a handful” of Republicans said Thursday they would support the measure, but even more said they were against it or hadn’t yet decided.

“For seven and a half years we have been promising the American people that we will repeal and replace this broken law, because it’s collapsing and it’s failing families,” House Speaker Paul D. Ryan said. “And (Friday) we’re proceeding.”

In the meeting with House Republicans on Thursday night, Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.) said Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney told his former colleagues “the president needs this, the president has said he wants a vote tomorrow up or down.”

“If for any reason it’s down, we’re just going to move forward with additional parts of his agenda,” Mulvaney said. “This is our moment in time.”

An analysis from the Congressional Budget Office shows that about 24 million more Americans would be uninsured by 2026 under the bill. The bill would cut the deficit by $150 billion over the next 10 years.

 

Photo: Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) walks to his office after gaveling the House into session, on Capitol Hill, March 24, 2017 in Washington. House Republicans are planning to vote on the American Health Care Act on Friday. 

Photo courtesy: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Publication date: March 24, 2017