President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned House Republicans they could lose their seats in next year’s midterm elections if they failed to back the GOP health care overhaul and fulfill a long-promised goal to undo Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act.
In a rare trip to the Capitol, the president met behind closed doors with rank-and-file Republicans, some wavering on the legislation two days before a climactic vote.
Top House Republicans unveiled revisions to their bill Monday night in hopes of nailing down support.
Trump’s message to Republicans: “If you don’t pass the bill there could be political costs,” said Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.).
The lawmaker said Trump said House GOP seats could be at risk if the bill fails and “the danger of your not voting for the bill is people could lose their seats.”
Following President Trump’s visit to the House GOP caucus, the party leadership held a brief news conference to emphasize the importance of the president’s pledge and his warning regarding the midterm election.
Enactment of the health care bill would clear the way for Congress to move to revamping the tax code and other GOP priorities.
Defeat would wound Trump two months into his administration and raise questions about his ability to win support from his own party moving forward.
Among the disgruntled were GOP lawmakers in the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, though the strength of their opposition was unclear.
(AP)
