Reps. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Billy Long (R-Mo.) on Wednesday said they would support the GOP’s ObamaCare repeal-and-replace bill with the addition of an amendment, giving the effort new momentum as GOP leaders push toward a floor vote.
The two Republicans made the announcement at the White House after meeting with President Trump.
"I think it is likely now to pass the House,” Upton said.
But Upton added he’s “not on the whip team” and can’t definitively say there are enough votes for it to pass.
Both Upton and Long dealt a setback to the healthcare measure earlier this week, when they came out against it because they saidit failed to protect people with pre-existing conditions.
The new amendment from Upton would provide $8 billion over five years to help people with pre-existing conditions afford their premiums in states that are granted a waiver from ObamaCare’s protections.
The liberal Center for American Progress estimated on Tuesday that the high-risk pools are underfunded by much more: $200 billion over 10 years.
The GOP bill already includes $130 billion over 10 years, which was not swaying many moderates as of Tuesday.
more here:
http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/33 ... d-momentum
