House Speaker Paul Ryan on Tuesday wouldn’t rule out a vote as soon as this week on a White House-driven plan to revive legislation to repeal and replace Obamacare.
“I don’t know the answer to that,” Ryan, R-Wis., said when asked whether the House could take up a measure this week that is being pushed by the Trump administration.
In a private GOP meeting in the House basement Tuesday, some lawmakers asked the leadership to cancel the upcoming recess so the House would have a chance to take up the bill next week.
But that seemed unlikely Tuesday morning, and GOP lawmakers said the more likely plan involves taking up the bill after the House returns, after it finishes dealing with an April 28 government spending deadline.
“A lot of people would like to get it done this week,” said Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo. “The most realistic thing is to try to get something done when we get back.”
With just days left before Congress exits for a two-week recess, conservatives and moderates are in talks with Trump officials to make changes to a GOP plan that was pulled from the floor nearly two weeks ago.
Bill text provided by the White House could be available by Tuesday, according to some conservatives who have been negotiating directly with the administration.
“We are in the conceptual stages right now,” Ryan said after a closed-door meeting with GOP rank-and-file members.
Ryan characterized the talks among members as “very productive,” but said “that is not to say we are ready to go.”
Members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus met last night with Vice President Mike Pence and White House chief of staff Reince Priebus to discuss whether they would vote for a bill that allows states to decide the fate of Obamacare’s essential health benefits and other mandates.
The change is aimed at bringing in moderates who dropped their support before the bill reached the floor, helping to sink it.
Republicans last month fell short of the 216 votes needed to pass the legislation but decided a few days to keep trying to secure a deal which now appears to be moving forward.
“There is certainly a level of optimism we didn’t have two weeks ago,” said Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y., a member of the House whip operation and a key heath care negotiator.
Freedom Caucus members told the Washington Examiner early Tuesday they first want to see the bill text before signing on or rejecting the proposal.
“We are waiting to see the language,” said Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.
“I”m encouraged by what I’ve read so far,” said Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga. “I think we are pretty close to having a deal.”
But many moderates who ended up opposing the GOP bill said they were undecided, including House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J. Some moderates opposed the original GOP bill because it reduced Medicaid funding.
“My focus has been primarily on enhanced benefits and the fact that New Jersey is a Medicaid dependent state,” Frelinghuysen said.
Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., said he wants to see the deal offered by the White House in writing.
“Trust but verify,” Gosar said.
