Shortly after 5:00 on Thursday evening, President Trump issued a challenge to leaders of the House Freedom Caucus, tweeting, “If @RepMarkMeadows, @Jim_Jordan and @Raul_Labrador would get on board we would have both great healthcare and massive tax cuts & reform.”
Just hours before Trump’s tweet, however, both Meadows and Jordan explained exactly what it would take to get them “on board” with the plan in an exclusive interview with the Washington Examiner.
Rep. Meadows, R-N.C., chairman of the Freedom Caucus, and Rep. Jordan, R-Ohio, stated clearly that if the plan included repeals of the essential health benefits and community rating mandates passed in Obamacare, it would win their support and the support of their allies.
This compromise from moderates, Meadows told the Washington Examiner, “would bring the vast majority of the Freedom Caucus to a yes.”
Including repeals of these mandates, they believe, will allow the bill to actually lower the cost of premiums. A CBO report estimated the American Health Care Act would temporarily spike premium 15 to 20 percent on average. To the Freedom Caucus, that is unacceptable.
Given these clear cut asks from Freedom Caucus leaders, Trump should know exactly what he needs to do to earn the group’s support.
Emily Jashinsky is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
