Trump delivers ultimatum to House GOP: Pass health-care measure on Friday or he’ll move on

WaPo ^ | 03-23-2017 | Mike DeBonis

[NRx]

President Trump delivered an ultimatum to House Republicans on Thursday night: Vote to approve the measure to overhaul the nation’s health-care system on the House floor Friday, or reject it and the president will move on to his other legislative priorities.

The president signaled that the time for negotiations was over with rank-and-file Republicans who were meeting late at night on Capitol Hill to try to find common ground on the embattled package crafted by House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.).

The move was a high-risk gamble for the president and speaker, who have both invested significant political capital in passing legislation that would rewrite the 2010 Affordable Care Act. For Trump, who campaigned as a skilled negotiator capable of forging a good deal on behalf of Americans, it could either vindicate or undercut one of his signature claims. If the measure fails, it would mean that Obamacare — something that congressional Republicans have railed against for seven years — would remain in place.

“Disastrous #Obamacare has led to higher costs & fewer options. It will only continue to get worse! We must #RepealANDReplace. #PassTheBill,” Trump tweeted from his official White House account as the meeting was wrapping up Thursday night.

[QuigleyDU]

It will pass, or R’s lose the House and they know it.

[af_vet_1981]

I think so too. The reality is that a straight repeal or taking away Medicaid and essential benefits is political suicide. The voters inside the blue wall (about 70,000 total) swung the election for Trump. Is it really worth it to lose those voters? If people lose and can’t get care, we are screwed in the next election. The purists will lose in the end because the Democrats will come in and give us something even worse than Obamacare.

The purists are not really pure, perhaps the term obstructionists is more accurate. I'm unsure as to their level of understanding; they may only be able to see very simple black or white hues, as it were, and cannot really anticipate the future, living in a fantasy world.

[af_vet_1981]

Ah, you would have preferred RomneyCare instead of RyanCare, then. I see. You are a Republican first ... and a God Fearing, America Loving, Small Government, Life Protecting, Constitution Protecting, Capital-C conservative second. I'm afraid we won't agree on much, then. Perhaps your "madness" is my "sanity".

1. I would have preferred President Romney to President Obama.
2. Show me that you fear God.

[Yosemitest]

Time to REPEAL AND REPLACE "DemocRAT Light" House Speaker Paul D. Ryan !

[Cboldt]

-- My take: the Death Panels law crammed down our throats by the `rats was only a first step. That disaster had second and third phases, too. --

I was polled on that yesterday. Somebodies are looking for the buzzwords that best facilitate selling "legalized death by physician" to the public.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

I had thought myself all along that the first move should be tax cuts. Top level healthcare requires as much money as possible — this will become increasingly obvious as technology improves.

Tech is right at the brink of revolutionizing healthcare in ways few can imagine. And whoever gets on the cutting edge of that will enjoy globtrotting tourists who want better health.

So what did Paul Ryan do? Set the scehedule of this stink bomb first [after stalling through February] and tax cuts later.

[stonehouse01]

Well done President Trump! By calling Ryan’s bluff and being willing to walk away he creates an incredibly strong negotiating position.

It proves that the President is not going to play GOPe games and is willing to walk away if necessary.

[QuigleyDU]

It will pass, or R’s lose the House and they know it.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

I’m under the same impression.

Trump knows that the House is more reasonable than the senate.

Ryan was the used car salesman on this issue. Heck, he was more like a satellite dish salesman. And he probably told Trump, “If you help push this I’ll be eternally grateful.”

Something on that order, implying contrariness otherwise if Trump was not on board. So Trump gave Ryan enough time to realize for himself that this isn’t selling. AND by letting Ryan go ‘free range’, the House gets to see its Speaker in action.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

I despised the Never-Romneys, and heck, I even opposed the Never-McCains. If either of them became the clear front-runner against Hillary I would have backed them last year. Even Jeb Bush.

Sure, they couldn’t have lit a candle to Trump or Cruz, but we know too much about Hillary and Obama to the point it’s as much a ‘no-brainer’ as needing to breathe.

[CottonBall]

When insurance premiums increase by 100% or insurance companies leave markets so people have no or few options - that’s imploding.

[weston]

Exactly.
This bill is not perfect but it does have some good things in it. It DEFUNDS Planned Parenthood and allows & encourages Health Savings Accounts. HSA’s alone will save many people a lot of money and put some competition back on service providers.

[pgkdan]

Ultimatums are not how you do deals.

Being willing to walk away and actually walking away are vital in deal making. I can't count the number of times I've walked away and wound up signing the deal.

It's exactly how deals get done.

[datricker]

Nothing will ever change we might as well all go home Owen said it’s this way forever humans made it but can’t change it. this apathetic attitude is loser talk. This sounds like crap Jeb bush would tell us

[Antoninus]

He's setting Ryan up for failure.

That's a possibility and is second-level thinking. However, based on Occam's Razor, I think Trump really does support this stinker of a bill--and that is just plain sad.

[xzins]

This won’t work unless democrats cross over. Will they? I don’t think so, but maybe.

[QuigleyDU]

READ THIS> TRump wins either way. The losers here are the R’s(Ryan), pass or fail, and the D’s if it fails and here’s why. Trump wins either way. This bill is not what R’s promised, so passing it hurts R’s and if it fails also hurts R’s because they promised for 8 years to fully repeal it. Actually helps D’s if it passes cause now they have a political tool and can blame the R’s for the disaster which is healthcare and this bill is Obamacare without the IRS. If it fails hurts the Dems because their still responsible for the Ocare disaster. Trump has the bully pulpit and if necessary can bash the R’s, (he doesn’t need the job)for being ungovernable, he holds all the card. The best outcome to get tax/infrastructure/immigration done is if this loses, R,s will then be pressured to show some success. AND TO BE HONEST TOO MANY CITIZENS AND POL’S HAVE IN SOMEWAY EMBRACED THE IDEA THAT FREE HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT. Not going back.

[datricker]

An opportunity for some one to call a vote for a new speaker?

[luvie]

What if he’s issuing this ultimatum for a vote today so this monstrosity WILL fail and then he can implement one that is the real deal? Just a thought I had....

[who knows what evil?]

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