This morning, conservatives must decide whether to make the House Budget Committee their Thermopylae or just another parliamentary toll booth for obtaining small concessions from leadership on Speaker Ryan’s Obamacare overhaul.
It would only take four No votes in committee to sink the package. Three members of the cantankerous Freedom Caucus sit on the committee.
Already Virginia Rep. Dave Brat has publicly said he’ll oppose the package. So far his caucus colleagues, Reps. Mark Sanford of South Carolina and Gary Palmer of Alabama, have remained mum. If the conservatives make this their final hour, they’d forever incur the wrath of leadership. But there’s no guarantee of success.
The conservatives need a fourth conspirator and there are two key members to watch. Possible recruits include Rep. Matt Gaetz, a freshman from Florida with a populist streak and anti-Obamacare bent. Another possible no vote could come from Rep. John Faso of New York.
Both have been under inside and outside pressure. Turning on the charm, Vice President Mike Pence met with Gaetz Wednesday, presumably to bring him on board. And Faso has been in the cross hairs of grassroots activists. His phones were jammed minutes before the committee meeting kicked off and on Twitter Faso encouraged constituents to email him instead.
Regardless of how they vote, don’t expect the Obamacare overhaul to look different. The task of the Budget Committee is marrying versions of the bill crafted by the Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce Committees. No amendments will be offered. Leadership has kindly given Republicans an outlet for their frustrations though.
Chairwoman Diane Black of Tennessee will allow members to make motions. Each Republican and Democrat gets seven motions to explain what they do and don’t like about the package. It’ll be a prime opportunity for grandstanding with little chance at actually making any changes.
If it passes the Budget Committee, the bill would head to the Rules Committee next week for final preparation and then in front of the entire House for vote. Either conservatives kill the Obamacare overhaul now or it goes to the House floor.
Philip Wegmann is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
