Health Bill Will Pass Budget Committee And Is ‘Made Better’ With New Ideas, Chairwoman Says
Rep. Diane Black, (R-Tenn.) who heads the House budget panel, says she is confident that the legislation can get through a vote today despite some conservatives' complaints.
The Hill:
House Budget Chair 'Confident' On ObamaCare Repeal Vote
House Budget Committee Chairwoman Diane Black (R-Tenn.) says she is confident that ObamaCare repeal legislation will advance out of her committee despite concerns from conservatives. The panel, which is voting Thursday on the GOP healthcare bill, has several conservative members, including Reps. Dave Brat (R-Va.) and Mark Sanford (R-S.C.), who have strong concerns about the bill. The measure would fail if four Republicans join all Democrats in opposing it. (Sullivan, 3/15)
CQ Roll Call:
House Budget Republicans Waffling On Obamacare Repeal
Some Republicans on the House Budget Committee are indicating they're not yet on board with advancing the Obamacare repeal and replace bill when it comes up for a vote in their panel's markup Thursday. It remains unclear and somewhat unlikely that those opposed to the legislative package in its current form would win enough support within the committee to tank the bill. Republican leaders have indicated that their repeal of the 2010 health care law could be altered during its hearing in the House Rules Committee or could be amended on the House floor. (Shutt, 3/15)
CQ Roll Call:
House Budget Democrats See Tense Markup For Obamacare Repeal
Democrats at a House Budget Committee markup Thursday plan to cast doubt on the viability of the GOP’s plan to repeal and replace the health care law, though the panel’s top Democrat believes Republican opponents on the committee will be under tremendous pressure to keep the legislation on track for floor action. “Among the arguments we’re going to make are one, that right now this piece of legislation, the American Health Care Act, is in legislative quicksand. It is sinking of its own weight and every time Republicans try to move one way or another, it is sinking faster,” said Rep. John Yarmuth of Kentucky at a Democratic caucus press conference Wednesday. (Mejdrich, 3/15)