White House budget director Mick Mulvaney believes a “breakthrough” is coming on the latest version of the House GOP plan to repeal and replace parts of Obamacare, and that a vote could come Saturday.
Mulvaney said on Fox News Wednesday that Michigan GOP Rep. Fred Upton could be bringing an amendment to the bill Wednesday morning that could bring more moderates on board. Upton said Tuesday he’s voting against the bill as it currently stands because it doesn’t do enough to protect people with pre-existing conditions.
“You may be seeing a breakthrough this morning and you may see a vote, I don’t know, as early as Saturday,” Mulvaney said.
The American Health Care Act has gone through a number of iterations since being introduced earlier this year and has largely been a millstone around the neck of GOP leaders.
The bill was pulled from the floor earlier this year after it was clear there wasn’t enough support from both the centrist and conservative wings of the House GOP. After a few weeks of negotiation with conservatives, House leaders are trying to bring the bill back to the floor, but it’s now in danger of failing because of a lack of centrist support.
Mulvaney said if he were Speaker Paul Ryan, he would put the bill on the floor as soon as possible.
“I’d probably go to the floor today because it’s just that close,” he said.
