The House Freedom Caucus will not vote in favor of the House Republican leadership plan to replace the Affordable Care Act, throwing the passage of the bill into jeopardy.
The group, which claims about 40 lawmakers, is a staunchly fiscally conservative group that wants full repeal of Obamacare and has been reluctant to settle for anything less. The lawmakers have been critical of the American Health Care Act since it was proposed by House Republican leadership, arguing it doesn’t go far enough to repeal Obamacare.
The group’s Twitter account stated that, despite signs of confidence emerging in the bill from House leadership, they remain opposed. That could upend the bill’s passage, given 216 votes are needed to pass and every Democrat is expected to oppose the bill. House Republicans can afford just 20 objections from their caucus in order to pass the bill
“The House Freedom Caucus still opposes the GOP replacement bill in its current form,” the group tweeted.
The House Freedom Caucus still opposes the GOP replacement bill in its current form.
— House Freedom Caucus (@freedomcaucus) March 17, 2017
However, it appears the group might not be voting as a bloc.
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise announced Friday he had made a deal with 12 members of the Republican Study Committee and the House Freedom Caucus in order to get their support.
Those changes were optional Medicaid block grants and work incentives for able-bodied Medicare recipients, Scalise said. The deal was made during a meeting with President Trump at the White House, and the president signaled the two changes led him to be fully behind the bill.
