Well it looks like the White House is finally admitting that they can’t just push through the Obamacare replacement bill as is. According to Sean Spicer today, they are indeed working with Congress to amend the bill:
Here’s more:
WASHINGTON EXAMINER – White House officials are working with Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and other congressional leaders to put together a manager’s amendment to the Republican bill aimed at whittling down Obamacare through the budget reconciliation process.
“We are obviously in talks with House leadership” about the ideas that would be included in a manager’s amendment to the American Health Care Act, White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters Tuesday.
“All of that is part of a comprehensive strategy to engage with members who support us,” Spicer added. “That’s part of the legislative process.”
A manager’s amendment would give Republicans a chance to make the changes necessary to satisfy the White House, and possibly some holdout Republicans in Congress, before moving the bill toward final passage. To get there, Spicer said Trump would be on the phone today with Ryan and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., to work on those changes.
I really hope the White House is serious about passing this bill in both the House and the Senate. If that’s the case, then we can expect some good amendments to the bill in this ‘manager’s amendment’ process. If not, we’ll be stuck back at square one.