Republicans’ health-care bill looks like it has enough votes to pass the House
House Republicans seemed close to finalizing a health-care reform bill, about a month after they had to pull a similar bill from consideration for lack of support. It seems likely that the bill, the latest version of the American Health Care Act, has the votes to pass.
With the bill’s latest changes, states would be able to opt out of the ACA’s requirement that insurers charge customers the same amount regardless of their pre-existing conditions. States could also opt out of regulations constraining how much companies can charge older people versus younger ones and requiring insurance plans to offer a set of “essential health benefits.”
The hard-line conservative House Freedom Caucus leaders endorsed the new legislation, eliminating a significant barrier Republican leadership faced last time around. And moderates are beginning to come around as well.
Assuming no Democrats support the measure, Republicans could lose no more than 22 votes to pass the bill and send it to a much tougher test in the Senate.
Below is a list of Republicans who had opposed, remained silent on or switched to supporting the latest version of the legislation. Click on a lawmaker’s name to learn more about their position.
Members of the far-right House Freedom Caucus are bolded.
Opposed or leaning “no” 19
Members who have publicly said they would vote “no” on the current bill, or have expressed serious concerns about it.
Undecided or unclear 30
Members who have not publicly taken a position on the current bill.
Switched to “yes” 31
Members who were previously undecided or leaning against the bill who now support it.
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