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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 22 March 2017

Trump to GOP: Pass health care bill or seal your fate

RICARDO ZALDIVAR deliberations.
ALAN FRAM The GOP bill would scale
Associated Press back the role of govern-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Time ment in the private health
for talk running out, Presi- insurance market, and limit
dent Donald Trump on future federal financing
Tuesday warned wavering for Medicaid. It would re-
House Republicans that peal tax increases on the
their jobs were on the line in wealthy that Democrats
next year’s elections if they used to pay for Obama’s
failed to back a GOP bill coverage expansion. Fines
that would upend Barack enforcing the Obama-era
Obama’s Affordable Care requirement that virtually
Act. all Americans have cover-
The countdown quickened age would be eliminated.
toward an expected vote The nonpartisan Congres-
Thursday on legislation sional Budget Office esti-
undoing much of the law mates that 24 million fewer
that has provided cover- people will have health in-
age to some 20 million surance in 2026 under the
Americans. Trump huddled GOP bill.
behind closed doors with Trump warned House Re-
rank-and-file Republicans publicans they’d seal their
just hours after GOP lead- political doom if they wa- President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Tuesday,
March 21, 2017, after signing a bill to increase NASA’s budget to $19.5 billion and directs the
ers unveiled changes in- ver, with the party poten- agency to focus human exploration of deep space and Mars.
tended to pick up votes tially losing control of the (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
by doling out concessions House. Still, several conser-
to centrists and hardliners vatives were steadfast in the bill. Trump didn’t indi- day with Mark Meadows,” pects are uncertain in the
alike. their opposition even after cate what he would do to Collins said. Asked if there Senate, where Republicans
“If we fail to get it done, the session with Trump. those who vote against the was a threat to Meadows hold a slim majority. Six GOP
fail to (meet) the promises “The president wouldn’t bill, but during the caucus, in that, Collins responded: senators have expressed
made by all of us, including have been here this morn- he singled out Rep. Mark “There was no threat what- deep misgivings including
the president, then it could ing if they have the votes,” Meadows, R-N.C., an out- soever.” Tom Cotton of Arkansas,
have a very detrimental said Rep. Rod Blum, R-Io- spoken critic of the bill. Meadows was still a “no” who said Tuesday he can-
effect to Republicans in wa, a member of the Free- Collins said Trump asked vote at the end of the day. not support the House bill.
‘18 who are running for re- dom Caucus who com- Meadows to stand up, Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., In an Associated Press
election,” said Rep. Mike plained that the GOP bill called him a great guy told reporters that if Repub- interview, Senate Ma-
Conaway, R-Texas. “If it leaves too much govern- and said he is counting on licans pass the legislation, jority Leader Mitch Mc-
fails, then there will be a lot ment regulation in place. Meadows to get this over “people will reward us. If Connell, R-Ky., signaled
of people looking for work Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y., the line. we don’t keep our promise, he’d use Trump’s clout to
in 2018.” said Trump told Republi- “The president is very adroit it will be very hard to man- pressure unhappy Republi-
Trump’s message to Re- cans he would campaign at putting somebody on age this.” cans in his chamber.q
publicans: “If you don’t for them if they backed the spot and he did that to- If the bill advances, pros-
pass the bill there could be
political costs,” said Rep.
Walter Jones, R-N.C. Trump signs NASA bill, ponders sending Congress to space
Even with the revisions, the
outlook for House passage DARLENE SUPERVILLE being an astronaut is a Trump, who faces a cru- space exploration measure
remains dicey. After a day Associated Press “pretty tough job.” He said cial House vote later this sponsored by Cruz and Sen.
of cajoling votes, a senior WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- he wasn’t sure he’d want week on legislation long Bill Nelson, D-Fla. The new
administration official said dent Donald Trump signed it and, among lawmakers promised by Republicans law authorizes $19.5 billion
the White House is trying legislation Tuesday adding he put the question to, Sen. to overhaul the Obama- in spending for the Nation-
to persuade about 20 to human exploration of Mars Ted Cruz said he wouldn’t era Affordable Care Act al Aeronautics and Space
25 House Republicans who to NASA’s mission. Could want to be a space trav- health law, readily agreed. Administration for the bud-
are either opposed or un- sending Congress into eler, either. But Cruz, R-Tex- The health care bill is facing get year that began Oct. 1.
decided. House leaders space be next? as, offered up a tantaliz- resistance from some con- Cruz said the authorization
and Trump can only af- Flanked at an Oval Office ing suggestion. “You could servative members of the bill is the first for the space
ford to lose 21. The official bill-signing ceremony by send Congress to space,” party. “What a great idea agency in seven years,
spoke on condition of ano- astronauts and lawmak- he said to laughter, includ- that could be,” Trump said, and he called it a “terrific”
nymity to discuss internal ers, Trump observed that ing from the president. before turning back to the achievement.q