Crunch time for health care in D.C.

It's crunch time - and arm-twisting time - in Washington.

The Republican plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act may or may not come to a vote in the House.

Whether or not President Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan have the votes to pass their American Health Care Act remains in question, despite some serious pressure being applied by the president.

Mr. Trump has made it clear that he will be keeping score when it comes to the vote, and those who don't toe the party line likely will face his wrath.

It's unlikely that any Democrats will vote in favor, so this is something of a Republican showdown. Conservatives continue to fume that the GOP plan is not what they campaigned on, and not what they promised voters. In short, they see it as Obamacare Lite, far short of the repeal they promised voters.

And some GOP moderates have indicated they cannot support the changes and the hardships the GOP plan would place on many of their constituents.

Here in Delaware County, U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan, R-7, of Chadds Ford, who voted in favor of the measure in passing it out of the Ways and Means Committee, said yesterday afternoon he remains undecided as he continues to review the legislation.

One thing you can count on: If Ryan and the Republican leadership feel they don't have the votes, don't look for this thing to make it to the floor.

That could take Meehan and others riding the fence off the hook and not have to take a stand one way or the other.

You can read our editorial here.

Comments