Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said Wednesday that Republican lawmakers would be mocked if they can’t figure out a way to repeal and replace Obamacare.
“The time for talk is over. Now is the time for action,” Cruz said in a speech to conservative activists at a FreedomWorks rally near the Capitol. “Failure is not an option. If Republicans take this opportunity and blow it, we will rightly be considered a laughing stock.”
“We have the opportunity to do an enormous amount of good. Now, we could screw it up. We could very easily screw it up,” Cruz said. “But I believe we are poised for this to be the most productive Congress in decades.”
“We must honor our promise and repeal Obamacare. For six years, Republicans have campaigned over and over and over again saying if only you’d give us the House, we’ll repeal Obamacare. If you only you give us the Senate, we’ll repeal Obamacare. If only you give us the White House, we’ll repeal Obamacare. You know what? We’re out of excuses.”
The Texas Republican criticized the House Republican bill, called the American Health Care Act, by saying it has “a lot of problems.” He also hailed the other conservative politicians at the rally, which included Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Reps. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., and Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.
Conservative lawmakers have been constant critics of the AHCA, which is set to reach the House Budget Committee for a markup on Thursday.
