In a last-minute bid to woo conservatives ahead of a high-stakes vote on Thursday on repealing and replacing Obamacare, House leaders are considering gutting more Obamacare regulations.
The news comes as President Trump and White House officials are in talks with House conservatives over changes that can win over holdouts and secure enough votes to move the bill to the Senate.
Among the many arguments conservatives have made against the House healthcare bill, one of the most significant is that it leaves too many costly regulations in place and thus fails to address long-standing criticisms of Obamacare — that it limits choices and drives premiums higher than they otherwise would be.
Previously, House leaders have argued that the regulations could not be nixed, because doing so would blow up the bill in the Senate, where Republicans will have to pass the measure under restrictive rules to enable it to clear with a simple majority.
But a House leadership aide told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday that Republicans received new information from the Senate, indicating that axing the regulations would not automatically doom the bill from being considered on an expedited basis.
House Speaker Paul Ryan’s office is now more open to nixing the regulations, known as “essential health benefits.” Under Obamacare, all insurance policies must include ten categories of benefits, such as maternity care and preventive coverage, that make policies more comprehensive but also make it costlier for individuals who would prefer cheaper plans with fewer benefits.
A group of House Freedom Caucus members huddled with Vice President Mike Pence in a small room near the House chamber on Wednesday afternoon, while on the House floor, the GOP whip team worked the room. Later, Trump himself called Meadows.
“We had a great conversation with the vice president,” Mark Meadows, chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, told the Washington Examiner after the meeting. “Certainly if anybody can get this to a yes it’s probably the president first and the vice president second.”
Earlier in the day, the Freedom Caucus announced that it had 25 members committed to voting “no” on the bill in its current form – which would be enough to sink the legislation.
Later in the day after more discussions with the White House, Meadows said that we are “not there yet but we are really optimistic.”
A White House official said, “We are open to changes to the bill that make it better and help grow support for it but no specific changes to discuss at this time.
The House leadership aide emphasized that things are still very fluid. If it turns out that scrapping the benefits loses more votes among Republican moderates than it gains among conservatives, it may not make it until the final bill. Also, even if it passes the House, the changes may not survive the full Senate process. Earlier Wednesday, conservative Sen. Mike Lee told the Washington Examiner the Senate parliamentarian indicated to him that scrapping the regulations wouldn’t necessarily be impossible under Senate rules.
Meadows told reporters that there are a number of discussions in the Senate on what can pass by simple majority under reconciliation rules and that he was encouraged by the prospects.
Meadows said that Trump called him during a meeting this evening of the caucus.
“In doing that he is certainly one that is engaging in the process,” he said.
He added that the caucus members’ position hasn’t changed but “we are trying to get something done in good faith.”
As Republicans scramble to reach a deal, one member opposing the current legislation suggested that the bill vote could be delayed if needed.
“We don’t think the arbitrary deadline of tomorrow means anything,” said Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich.
Susan Ferrechio and Sarah Westwood contributed to this report.
