Silke Jasso
While on Capitol Hill Tuesday morning, President Trump warned House GOP lawmakers to pass the American Health Care Act or risk losing their seats in 2018.
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“This Thursday we have a chance to repeal and replace Obamacare, and this time you’ve actually got someone who will sign the bill. I’m asking for your vote,” he told them before later adding, “Many of you came in on the pledge to repeal and replace Obamacare. I honestly think many of you will lose your seats in 2018 if you don’t get this done.”
RELATED:Â Ted Cruz warned Republicans of tar and feathering if their healthcare bill did not lower premiums
The odds of the bill’s passage are not looking good, with many Republican members of Congress arguing that it does not effectively repeal and replace Obamacare. House Freedom Caucus members, who along with some liberty-oriented senators have frequently referred to the bill as “Obamacare Lite,” even came out of a Monday night meeting declaring they have enough votes to block it. On Tuesday morning, Trump took to calling out the Caucus’ Chairman, Mark Meadows (R-NC).
“I’m gonna come after you, but I know I won’t have to, because I know you’ll vote ‘yes,'” Trump told him according to several who attended the meeting. “Honestly, a loss is not acceptable, folks.”
Meadows, however, later told reporters that he won’t budge, saying, “I’m still a ‘no.’ I’ve had no indication that any of my Freedom Caucus colleagues have switched their votes.”
“Oh, he was kidding around,” said Representative Harold Rogers (R-KY), a supporter of the bill, about Trump’s threats. “I think.”
RELATED: Bernie Sanders blasts Republicans’ new health care bill
