House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows, R-N.C., thinks Republicans are slowly making progress toward a deal that will allow the House to approve a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare, but said no final deal was emerging as of late Thursday afternoon.
“We have not gotten enough of our members to get to yes at this point under what we’re currently considering,” he said. “However, I would say progress is being made.”
“We have not gotten enough of our members to get to yes at this point under what we’re currently considering,” he said. “However, I would say progress is being made.”
He said conservative lawmakers are hoping to “not only deliver on a campaign promise, but to deliver lower premiums for every American from coast to coast and in between.”
President Trump has been meeting with several factions of House Republicans throughout the process of trying to reach a deal, and Meadows praised Trump for working with Republicans to reach a deal.
“I would say that at this point, the president’s engagement is unparalleled, I believe, in the history of our country,” he said. “This is a president that wants to get things done.”
But he reiterated that for now, he and other HFC members can’t support the bill.
“I am still a no at this time,” he said. “I’m desperately trying to get to yes, and I think the president knows that, I told him that personally.”
“The Freedom Caucus is really trying to get to ‘yes.,'” he said. “That’s why we met for such a long time.”
Meadows demurred when asked if he is the make-or-break vote on the matter.
“No, I don’t have any veto power,” Meadows said. “I have one vote, my voting card has my picture on it but it doesn’t belong to me, it belongs to the people of western North Carolina.”
“Again I am one vote,” he added. “I can tell you at this point we are trying to get another 30 to 40 votes that are currently in the ‘no’ category to ‘yes.’ Once we do that I think we can move forward with passing it on the House floor.”
