The leader of the conservative Freedom Caucus won’t vote for an Obamacare repeal bill that includes refundable tax credits, a key part of potential legislation to gut the law.
Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., told CNN on Monday that the refundable credits to pay down the cost of insurance for people who get it on the individual market are unacceptable. The remarks come as Republicans aim to introduce final legislation to repeal the law this month.
He called the credits nothing short of “an entitlement program,” according to CNN.
Meadows, the leader of the caucus, which has about 40 or so members, asked what is conservative about a “new entitlement program and a new tax increase?”
To pay for Obamacare repeal and replacement, Republicans are eyeing capping the tax break for employer-sponsored healthcare plan premiums.
Meadows also took umbrage with how the tax credits are going to be structured.
A leaked draft of Obamacare repeal legislation, which was dated Feb. 10 and isn’t final, would provide tax credits based on how old you are, with older people getting more money. This differs from Obamacare’s structure of providing credits based on income, with lower-income people getting additional credits.
Meadows noted that you could be a millionaire and “not have employer-based health care and you’re going to get a check from the federal government. I’ve got a problem with that.”
Meadows comments come on the same day President Trump met with insurance executives and said in remarks that he is going to release a plan fairly soon that is “going to be something special.”
