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| Obama and Pence in healthcare showdown | Obama and Pence in healthcare showdown |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| President Barack Obama is due to meet fellow Democrats in Congress to discuss how to protect the healthcare reforms he instituted, often called Obamacare. | President Barack Obama is due to meet fellow Democrats in Congress to discuss how to protect the healthcare reforms he instituted, often called Obamacare. |
| The visit comes as vice-president elect Mike Pence also visits Congress to plan his party's strategy to "repeal and replace" the law. | The visit comes as vice-president elect Mike Pence also visits Congress to plan his party's strategy to "repeal and replace" the law. |
| President-elect Donald Trump criticised the law during his campaign, but later vowed to protect some elements. | President-elect Donald Trump criticised the law during his campaign, but later vowed to protect some elements. |
| He tweeted on Wednesday that Democrats "own the failed ObamaCare disaster". | He tweeted on Wednesday that Democrats "own the failed ObamaCare disaster". |
| In a string of tweets Mr Trump also attacked the "poor coverage" and the rate increases that even some Democrats have criticised in recent months. | In a string of tweets Mr Trump also attacked the "poor coverage" and the rate increases that even some Democrats have criticised in recent months. |
| He cautioned Republicans to not to be seen as taking responsibility for the law, which he said "will fall of its own weight - be careful!" | |
| White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters that during his meetings Mr Obama would urge Democrats to "tell the story of their constituents who benefit" from the Affordable Care Act - the formal name for the US president's signature legislation. | White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters that during his meetings Mr Obama would urge Democrats to "tell the story of their constituents who benefit" from the Affordable Care Act - the formal name for the US president's signature legislation. |
| One Democrat, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, said that he "can't in good conscience" meet Mr Obama. | One Democrat, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, said that he "can't in good conscience" meet Mr Obama. |
| "We have the outgoing president coming up here today to talk to only Democrats - only Democrats. We have the incoming vice president coming up to talk only to Republicans," Senator Manchin told MSNBC on Wednesday morning. | "We have the outgoing president coming up here today to talk to only Democrats - only Democrats. We have the incoming vice president coming up to talk only to Republicans," Senator Manchin told MSNBC on Wednesday morning. |
| "That's not what makes this place work and that's really what's wrong with the place. I just think it's absolutely wrong." | "That's not what makes this place work and that's really what's wrong with the place. I just think it's absolutely wrong." |
| Mr Trump has called scrapping the 2010 healthcare law a top priority, claiming in October that it will be replaced by something "much better and much less expensive". | Mr Trump has called scrapping the 2010 healthcare law a top priority, claiming in October that it will be replaced by something "much better and much less expensive". |
| But after meeting President Obama in the days following his November victory he vowed to keep some popular elements of the law in place, such as barring insurance companies from denying coverage to people with pre-existing medical conditions. | But after meeting President Obama in the days following his November victory he vowed to keep some popular elements of the law in place, such as barring insurance companies from denying coverage to people with pre-existing medical conditions. |
| Republican Congressman Raul Labrador, a leading conservative in the House of Representatives, said that lawmakers are looking at six different replacement proposals that will need to be examined by congressional committees. | Republican Congressman Raul Labrador, a leading conservative in the House of Representatives, said that lawmakers are looking at six different replacement proposals that will need to be examined by congressional committees. |
| "There's just going to be hearings. The Democrats spent a lot of time screwing up the economy and screwing up healthcare, and it's going to take us a lot of time trying to rectify it," he said as Congress gathered for their second day of the 115th session. | "There's just going to be hearings. The Democrats spent a lot of time screwing up the economy and screwing up healthcare, and it's going to take us a lot of time trying to rectify it," he said as Congress gathered for their second day of the 115th session. |
| Donald Trump will be sworn-in as US president on 20 January. | Donald Trump will be sworn-in as US president on 20 January. |