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U.S. NEWS Thursday 23 March 2017
Leaders need votes for health bill on eve of House showdown

their clout for the rest of the Details were unclear, but
GOP agenda. members of the House Free-
Most GOP opponents were dom Caucus, the hard-line
conservatives asserting that group spearheading the
the legislation demolishing opposition, were expected
former President Barack at the White House early
Obama’s health care law Thursday.
did not go far enough. They “Tonight is an encourag-
were demanding repeal of ing night,” said Rep. Mark
the law’s requirements that Meadows, R-N.C., leader
insurers pay for specified of the caucus, who for days
services like maternity care, has said he has the votes to
prescription drugs and sub- kill the measure. “But I don’t
stances abuse treatment. want to be so optimistic as
Late Wednesday night, to say the deal is done.”
House Speaker Paul Ryan, It was initially uncertain if
R-Wis., met with moderate the provision could survive
Republicans from Penn- in the Senate or how mod-
sylvania, Illinois, Maine erate Republicans would
and New York as well as react. Democrats said the
members of leadership. language would die in
Any changes on essen- the Senate because that
tial health benefits would chamber’s rules don’t al-
From left, Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Com- likely trigger an immediate low provisions not directly
mittee, Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., ranking member on the House Ways and Means Committee, backlash from patient ad- related to the federal bud-
House Ways and Means Chairman Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, and Energy and Commerce Com-
mittee Chairman Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., gather in the House Rules Committee to shape the vocacy groups and doc- get.
final version of the Republican health care bill before it goes to the floor for debate and a vote, tors. In early meetings with The Republican legislation
Wednesday, March 22, 2017, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Trump and Pence and later would halt Obama’s tax
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) discussions with the White penalties against people
House, talks focused on who don’t buy coverage
ALAN FRAM make progress after GOP sessions came as leaders language addressing con- and cut the federal-state
RICARDO ZALDIVAR opposition had snowballed rummaged for votes on a servatives’ concerns that Medicaid program for low
Associated Press a day before a showdown roll call they can ill-afford those coverage require- earners, which the statute
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House vote. to lose without diminishing ments drive up premiums. expanded.q
top Republican legislative Trump huddled at the
priority in peril, President White House with 18 law-
Donald Trump dangled makers, a mix of support-
possible changes to the ers and opponents, Vice
health care bill Wednesday President Mike Pence saw
aimed at placating con- around two dozen and
servatives threatening to House GOP leaders held
torpedo the legislation. The countless talks with law-
White House seemed to makers at the Capitol. The

Black lawmakers say they had a

candid conversation with Trump

JESSE J. HOLLAND for historically black colleg-
Associated Press es and universities.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Black “He listened and we talked
lawmakers emerged from and we proposed a lot of
a meeting with President solutions, many of which
Donald Trump at the White I think he had not heard
House on Wednesday say- before. We’ll keep advo-
ing the president was at cating,” said Rep. Cedric
least willing to listen to their Richmond, D-La., caucus
concerns that his policies chairman, who presented
and positions could hurt the White House with writ-
their African-American ten copies of the group’s
constituents. However, be- history and agenda.
yond a promise of future Trump met with the law-
dialogue and a discussion makers in the Cabinet
about “divisive rhetoric,” it Room and the Oval Of-
seemed that there was little fice, with a candid photo
change in either the White tweeted by White House
House’s mind or the minds press secretary Sean Spic-
of the leadership of the er showing the president
Congressional Black Cau- in conversation with Rich-
cus on issues like the presi- mond; Rep. James Cly-
dent’s approach to health burn, D-S.C., the House’s
care, police misconduct No. 3 Democrat; and other
investigations, criminal jus- members of the caucus
tice, education or funding leadership.q