Last night Republican insider Robert Costa, with the Washington Post, tweeted some inside baseball he’s learned on things related to the Obamacare reform bill. I thought you might find it interesting:
Notes from today's vote…
-WH now wonders if bully pulpit is ever a smart first move
-Meadows is tighter than ever w/ several Trump aides— Robert Costa (@costareports) May 5, 2017
-Trump team loved celebration ceremony, but no consensus yet on strategy in Senate
-McCarthy kept wary CA Rs together. Whipped his crew.— Robert Costa (@costareports) May 5, 2017
-MacArthur liked being 'the guy' who made it happen. The amdt made at LBI. But clear-eyed now, knows it isn't all roses for GOP, mods uneasy
— Robert Costa (@costareports) May 5, 2017
-today's vote didn't change the fact that many prominent people in WH grumble daily about Ryan, say he should be sending them more bills
— Robert Costa (@costareports) May 5, 2017
-Per aides, Trump still thinks he can be transactional in a party of ideologues. But now knows his "sell" only goes so far w/ most Rs
— Robert Costa (@costareports) May 5, 2017
You know why Trump likes Meadows? Meadows's wife Debbie backed Trump after "Access Hollywood" tape came out. Trump talks about this a lot.
— Robert Costa (@costareports) May 5, 2017
People close to president often tell me about how Trump recalls aloud in mtgs how "Debbie was there" …and some top Rs were not
— Robert Costa (@costareports) May 5, 2017
This dynamic, in part, has allowed Meadows, a thorn in Ryan's side and operator, to become the WH's go-to R after March/bill being pulled
— Robert Costa (@costareports) May 5, 2017
The harder truth, based on convos w/ Rs: ACA has largely taken root w/ Medicaid exp, pre-exis coverage. Sen Rs not clamoring for disruption.
— Robert Costa (@costareports) May 5, 2017
Another rarely uttered truth, per some top Rs: getting bill out of the House was politically necessary. Look competent & united because…
— Robert Costa (@costareports) May 5, 2017
once the bill is out of House, Rs believe they can perhaps blame Sen Ds for any further stall. Tell base they've acted, rally for 2018.
— Robert Costa (@costareports) May 5, 2017
One more thing about Meadows, based on convos w/ WH. He is the person who made Trump "woke" about Congress, in the words of one source.
— Robert Costa (@costareports) May 5, 2017
In recent weeks, Meadows is the one who told Trump that charm/sales thing doesn't play here. Need to play ball on policy w/ conservatives
— Robert Costa (@costareports) May 5, 2017
That realization, prompted by Meadows, is part of what got Trump to recede from bully pulpit and let HFC and Tues Group haggle privately
— Robert Costa (@costareports) May 5, 2017