Some reports suggest the White House is pushing to pass healthcare legislation in the House of Representatives before yet another arbitrary deadline set for next week.
In March, the administration sought to pass the American Health Care Act on the same day President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law seven years earlier, allowing for less than a month of negotiations. While that deadline was eventually moved one day ahead, it created a high-pressure situation that amplified tensions and forced a premature end to productive inter-party deliberations.
Thankfully, those deliberations picked up after the administration’s deadline failed to force a compromise. But some reports suggest the White House is pressuring Republicans to pass a new version of that failed legislation before the president’s first 100 days in office elapse.
To be clear, a White House official told the Washington Examiner late this week that “there is not a set deadline to complete” reform.
But the temptation to set such a deadline is understandably strong given that it would allow the president to tout a key accomplishment in his first 100 days, especially since many of the administration’s early policy goals will take longer to tackle. Even so, a successful vote in the House alone would not achieve healthcare reform.
Implementing a deadline for public relations purposes alone is unwise. Republicans should set a vote in the House when they are satisfied the bill has sufficient support and is the right legislation for the American people.
In a Friday morning tweet, the president himself referred to the first 100 days as a “ridiculous standard.” He should live by that sentiment and not rush the legislative process to satisfy a standard that is, in his own words, ridiculous.
Emily Jashinsky is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
