Uh-oh. GOP Centrists Jumping Ship on Obamacare Repeal Bill

The House Freedom Caucus is at the White House meeting with President Trump on trying to negotiate a palatable health care bill. But the conservatives aren’t the only votes Trump and Speaker Ryan need to worry about it seems.

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Republican centrists are defecting and coming out in opposition to the American Health Care Act.

From The Hill:

Centrist defections in the last 24 hours include Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.), the co-chairman of the moderate Tuesday Group, which has roughly 50 members.

Reps. Dan Donovan (R-N.Y.), David Young (R-Iowa), Chris Smith (R-N.J.), Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.), and Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.), all centrists, have also announced their opposition to the bill.

Reps. Leonard Lance (R-N.J.) and John Katko (R-N.Y.), two other centrists, earlier announced their opposition.

That brings the number of centrist no votes to at least eight, though there could be more.

Not good. Trump and Ryan need all the votes they can get if they have any hope of passing the American Health Care Act tonight or in the coming days.

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Centrists are concerned over the number of their constituents who will lose health coverage under the AHCA. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R – NJ) went so far as to say the bill is worse than Obamacare. “Simply put, this bill does not meet the standards of what was promised; it is not as good as or better than what we currently have.”

Ouch.

If Trump, Ryan and supporters of the AHCA are able to cobble together the votes to pass the healthcare bill everybody hates, it will be a serious coup and a much needed legislative win for Trump.

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