The Freedom Caucus has announced in a tweet today that they are now “officially” supporting the non-repeal of Obamacare disaster that is “Trumpcare.”
NEWS: Freedom Caucus announces support for AHCA with Rep. MacArthur's amendment included. Statement: https://t.co/MD3NXpiPQ8
— House Freedom Caucus (@freedomcaucus) April 26, 2017
The change in position comes in the wake of an amendment that was authored by Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-NC) and Tom McArthur (R-NJ) Co-Chairman of the establishment “Tuesday Group.”
The amendment does nothing to address the issues I previously detailed here. Instead, a statement from Meadows’ office says it “will grant states the ability to repeal cost driving aspects of Obamacare left in place under the original AHCA.” Don’t want to mandate minimum coverage standards? Ask your state to apply for a waiver. Want to allow insurance companies to charge more to older and sicker people? Your state can apply for a waiver for that, too.
This amendment puts political hypocrisy on full display by punting any difficult decisions to the states while giving Congressmen the chance to say they voted to repeal Obamacare. Not only that, but there is a provision that appears to exempt Congressional members and their staff from the new rules of Trumpcare.
Many Freedom Caucus members, looking for a way out of the cross-hairs of President Trump who has threatened to primary them, are switching their votes from “No” to “Yes,” including Jim Jordan, Warren Davidson, and VA’s own Dave Brat.
This bill is a disaster. It won’t fix the real problems of health care. It won’t bring down health care costs. This bill is about giving Donald Trump and Paul Ryan “a win” on healthcare. By passing this bill, Trump and the establishment will claim they are keeping a campaign promise to repeal Obamacare, even though it doesn’t, and we will get stuck with a bill that makes things worse. What’s more, Republicans will now “own” healthcare, and all the problems that go with it.
I hope somebody is able to get hold of Dave Brat and the other members of the House Freedom Caucus and ask them why they are caving to political pressure and passing the buck to the states.
