House Republicans decided late Thursday night to push ahead with a vote on legislation to repeal and replace Obamacare even though it’s not clear the votes are there, setting up a hectic series of Friday votes that the GOP hopes will be over by the afternoon.
While the GOP still seemed to be scrambling for votes, House Speaker Paul Ryan said the vote would happen for sure, just moments after President Trump warned that it all had to be settled by tomorrow.
“For seven and a half years, we have been promising the American people that we will repeal and replace this broken law because it’s collapsing and it’s failing families,” Ryan said. “And tomorrow, we’re proceeding.”
That means a tight day in the House on Friday. Here’s how it should go:
Rules Committee
Early Friday morning, the House Rules Committee will meet to agree on a rule for considering the bill. That rule will describe how long the House will debate the final House healthcare bill, and what amendments are in order.
On the House floor Thursday night, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., indicated he expects the Rules Committee to make one amendment in order that will reflect the result of Thursday’s negotiation between House Republicans and the White House.
McCarthy said he expects the Rules Committee to meet before 9 a.m. Friday, and said he expects a copy of the amendment to be posted on the committee’s website sometime Thursday night.
House floor
Once the Rules Committee is done, the rule and the bill will head to the House floor. Usually, rules from the committee can only be considered on the next business day.
But late Thursday, the House approved a separate rule allowing everything to happen on one day. The so-called “same day rule” passed 227-189.
Vote on the rule, vote on the bill
The House will first have to approve the rule governing debate and vote on the final healthcare bill. McCarthy said he expects a vote on the rule could happen around 10 a.m.
After that, lawmakers will debate the bill and the amendment, and if the GOP feels the votes are there, votes will be held on the amendment and then the final bill.
But GOP leaders have been known to pull legislation from the floor if there are signs the votes aren’t there.
Everyone goes home
Once the votes are done, everyone goes home, and the focus will shift to the Senate next week. McCarthy said he expects the process will be completed by Friday afternoon, but acknowledged he can’t be sure.
“It’s our anticipation to be done in the afternoon, but the gentleman may know longer how long it will take based upon as we move through during the day,” he said.
