Earlier this week Republican House leadership had promised that the House of Representatives would pass the Obamacare repeal bill. On Thursday night these leaders kept their word as the Republican Healthcare bill made it through the House 217 to 213.
In the House
On Thursday night Representatives from all states gathered in their chamber to cast a vote on the bill that had been proposed to replace the Affordable Care Act implemented by the Obama administration. House Speaker Paul Ryan, one of the most vocal proponents of the American Health Care Act, addressed the members. He called upon to ‘do the right thing for the American people. Furthermore, Ryan introduced a compromise on the AHCA that would see the bill pass into law that night.
House Republicans were divided between the moderates and the conservatives. The proposed law such as it was before the alteration favored the conservative side. Ryan introduced an $8billion allotment to the budget that would subsidize cover for people with pre-existing conditions, a move that appeased the moderates. By so doing Ryan brought over several moderates who had been opposed to the proposed law. Immediately after Ryan left the floor, the Republicans started calling for a vote despite Democrat opposition. Democrat Representatives were against voting for the bill before the Congress Budget Office could assess its impact on the ordinary American.
The atmosphere in the House was tense as the vote was underway. Republicans waited to see whether their seven-year tenure in promising to repeal Obamacare would be realized. The Republicans cheered when the yay count crossed over the 216 vote threshold required to pass a bill with one vote to spare. The Democrats accepted defeat by they started singing ‘goodbye’ to their Republican counterparts, alluding to the fact that Republicans would likely lose the midterm primaries next year for passing the bill.
The Aftermath
People were lined up on Capitol Hill ‘shaming’ the Republicans as they left after the vote. Different parties also expressed varied opinions as to the effect of the Republican Healthcare bill passing in the House.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah, who had attended the vote just after an operation, said that the bill’s passing was a historic moment for the GOP. Paul Ryan stated that the passing of the bill was ‘a collaborative effort’ and was enthusiastic about its prospects of enactment. On the other hand, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi remarked that the win for the Republicans was a ‘mistake on their part.’ “People who did not previously know who their members of Congress were will now seek them out when their healthcare is canceled,” Pelosi stated.
Several Republicans met at the White House to celebrate their victory. President Donald Trump congratulated the group, saying that ‘Obamacare is not dead.’ Meanwhile, Republican Senators indicated that the bill was not likely to pass through the Senate. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) commented that the bill ‘had zero chance in the Senate.’ Senator Rob Portman of Ohio hinted at a possible no vote from him. Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, told Politico that the bill was ‘dead on arrival.’
Even with the House win, the AHCA has a long way to go in the Senate.
