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US healthcare bill: Trump issues Friday vote ultimatum | US healthcare bill: Trump issues Friday vote ultimatum |
(35 minutes later) | |
US President Donald Trump has demanded a make-or-break vote in the House of Representatives on Friday on his troubled healthcare bill. | US President Donald Trump has demanded a make-or-break vote in the House of Representatives on Friday on his troubled healthcare bill. |
The American Health Care Act is meant to replace parts of President Barack Obama's signature "Obamacare" law. | The American Health Care Act is meant to replace parts of President Barack Obama's signature "Obamacare" law. |
A vote on Thursday was delayed because of opposition from some Republicans. | A vote on Thursday was delayed because of opposition from some Republicans. |
Mr Trump reportedly told fellow Republicans that they had a choice between voting for his bill on Friday or being stuck with Obamacare for good. | Mr Trump reportedly told fellow Republicans that they had a choice between voting for his bill on Friday or being stuck with Obamacare for good. |
The president made the warning during a closed-door meeting at the White House, US media reported. | The president made the warning during a closed-door meeting at the White House, US media reported. |
High stakes for Trump on healthcare vote | High stakes for Trump on healthcare vote |
All-male US health bill photo sparks anger | All-male US health bill photo sparks anger |
A debate on the bill is now taking place in the House of Representatives, with a vote due later on Friday. | A debate on the bill is now taking place in the House of Representatives, with a vote due later on Friday. |
Republican and House Speaker Paul Ryan said: "For seven-and-a-half years we have been promising the American people that we will repeal and replace this broken law because it's collapsing and it's failing families, and tomorrow we're proceeding." | Republican and House Speaker Paul Ryan said: "For seven-and-a-half years we have been promising the American people that we will repeal and replace this broken law because it's collapsing and it's failing families, and tomorrow we're proceeding." |
Chris Collins, a New York Republican who supports Mr Trump, said on Thursday evening: "The president has said he wants a vote tomorrow, up or down. If for any reason it is down, we are just going to move forward with additional parts of his agenda." | Chris Collins, a New York Republican who supports Mr Trump, said on Thursday evening: "The president has said he wants a vote tomorrow, up or down. If for any reason it is down, we are just going to move forward with additional parts of his agenda." |
Mr Trump kept up the pressure on Friday morning, tweeting: "After seven horrible years of ObamaCare (skyrocketing premiums & deductibles, bad healthcare), this is finally your chance for a great plan!" | Mr Trump kept up the pressure on Friday morning, tweeting: "After seven horrible years of ObamaCare (skyrocketing premiums & deductibles, bad healthcare), this is finally your chance for a great plan!" |
Another tweet targeted the conservative Freedom Caucus, many of whose members have opposed the bill. | Another tweet targeted the conservative Freedom Caucus, many of whose members have opposed the bill. |
Woefully unpopular bill - Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC Washington | Woefully unpopular bill - Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC Washington |
The moment Republicans have been anticipating for seven years has almost arrived. They will have the chance to take a major first step toward rolling back the healthcare reform passed by Barack Obama and Democrats. | The moment Republicans have been anticipating for seven years has almost arrived. They will have the chance to take a major first step toward rolling back the healthcare reform passed by Barack Obama and Democrats. |
So why is it that almost no Republicans seem happy? | So why is it that almost no Republicans seem happy? |
Moderates are upset that the proposed legislation cuts health coverage too much. Hard-liners are angry the changes don't go far enough. Donald Trump is warning that if things don't go his way, he'll abandon the whole effort. | Moderates are upset that the proposed legislation cuts health coverage too much. Hard-liners are angry the changes don't go far enough. Donald Trump is warning that if things don't go his way, he'll abandon the whole effort. |
The president's move effectively forces the hand of recalcitrant members of Congress. The moderates seem unlikely to budge, so it all comes down to the libertarian-leaning Freedom Caucus conservatives. Is a half a repeal loaf better than no loaf at all? | The president's move effectively forces the hand of recalcitrant members of Congress. The moderates seem unlikely to budge, so it all comes down to the libertarian-leaning Freedom Caucus conservatives. Is a half a repeal loaf better than no loaf at all? |
Looming over all of this is the stark reality that the proposed legislation is woefully unpopular with the public at large - garnering just 17% approval in one recent poll. Conservative interest groups are sharply divided over whether to support the bill or not. | Looming over all of this is the stark reality that the proposed legislation is woefully unpopular with the public at large - garnering just 17% approval in one recent poll. Conservative interest groups are sharply divided over whether to support the bill or not. |
What should have been a moment of triumph for Republicans in Congress has turned into an exercise in political pain minimalisation. | What should have been a moment of triumph for Republicans in Congress has turned into an exercise in political pain minimalisation. |
Repealing and replacing Obamacare was a major plank of Mr Trump's election campaign, but its replacement has stalled amid Republican infighting, with the current reforms going too far for some and not far enough for others. | Repealing and replacing Obamacare was a major plank of Mr Trump's election campaign, but its replacement has stalled amid Republican infighting, with the current reforms going too far for some and not far enough for others. |
The postponement of Thursday's vote was a setback for the president, who had insisted he would win the numbers to pass it through the lower chamber of Congress on that day. | The postponement of Thursday's vote was a setback for the president, who had insisted he would win the numbers to pass it through the lower chamber of Congress on that day. |
He needs a minimum of 216 Republicans to vote for the bill. If 22 join the Democrats, the bill will fail. | |
But US media tallies suggest between 28 and 35 Republicans still remain opposed it. | |
The administration's hope is that Mr Trump's ultimatum will force them to vote Yes, if the alternative is the preservation of Mr Obama's healthcare legislation. | |
White House budget director Mick Mulvaney told ABC News: "Lawmakers will have to be accountable as to why they didn't vote to get rid of Obamacare when they had the chance, and that chance is today." | White House budget director Mick Mulvaney told ABC News: "Lawmakers will have to be accountable as to why they didn't vote to get rid of Obamacare when they had the chance, and that chance is today." |
But even if the bill does pass, it could face a tougher passage in the Senate, where Republicans have only a 52-48 majority. | But even if the bill does pass, it could face a tougher passage in the Senate, where Republicans have only a 52-48 majority. |
Earlier on Thursday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Mr Trump had made a "rookie's error for bringing this up on a day when clearly you're not ready". | Earlier on Thursday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Mr Trump had made a "rookie's error for bringing this up on a day when clearly you're not ready". |
More on the healthcare story | More on the healthcare story |
Obamacare helped 20 million previously uninsured Americans get health insurance but has been plagued by increases in insurance premiums, which were also a problem before the health law. | Obamacare helped 20 million previously uninsured Americans get health insurance but has been plagued by increases in insurance premiums, which were also a problem before the health law. |
Mr Trump promised a new law that would cover more people and at a lower cost. | Mr Trump promised a new law that would cover more people and at a lower cost. |
The Republican bill keeps some of the popular elements of Obamacare but limits future federal funding for Medicaid, which covers low-income people. | The Republican bill keeps some of the popular elements of Obamacare but limits future federal funding for Medicaid, which covers low-income people. |
A new estimate by the Congressional Budget Office released on Thursday evening said recent changes to the bill would make it costlier than previously thought. | A new estimate by the Congressional Budget Office released on Thursday evening said recent changes to the bill would make it costlier than previously thought. |
The number of uninsured Americans would rise by 24 million by 2026 under the new law, the budget analysis said. | The number of uninsured Americans would rise by 24 million by 2026 under the new law, the budget analysis said. |
Groups representing doctors, hospitals and the elderly have said they are opposed to the Republican bill. | Groups representing doctors, hospitals and the elderly have said they are opposed to the Republican bill. |
Key elements of the new bill: | Key elements of the new bill: |