But it's not clear there would be enough votes in the broader GOP House conference to pass the bill.
A White House official confirmed to CNN the administration is aiming to circulate legislative text on a health care replacement plan by Friday or Saturday, though exact timing is still fluid.
But, there also is the very real possibility that we are looking at deja vu all over again for House Republicans and the Trump White House.
He credited Vice President Mike Pence with coming up with a "great compromise" that has advanced progress on Republicans' plan. Leaders of top health-care committees wouldn't commit specifically on the amendment, when contacted Thursday morning.
But this merry-go-round explains why House Republicans are struggling to find an equilibrium and pass a health care bill.
A GOP aide said Thursday that the situation had not changed since then. "I believe we will get it, and whether it is next week or shortly thereafter".
The colleagues he has spoken with appear "cautiously optimistic", Cole added.
In the days following the collapse of Trump's initial attempt to dismantle Barack Obama's health care reforms, he signaled his intention to turn next to his pledged tax overhaul.
Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), the chief deputy whip, said earlier this month that the Freedom Caucus demands on that front were a "bridge too far for our members".
"This has not been our goal to sort of say that we have to have it done by X date", Spicer said in an off-camera briefing.
Justice Department sends 'sanctuary city' warnings to California, other jurisdictions
The metropolitan police department could lose $975,000 in federal grants if the Justice Department decides it isn't cooperating. New York City Police Commissioner James O'Neill said the "soft on crime" statement made his blood boil.
Ryan sent a mixed message about the bill's prospects in remarks Wednesday to reporters in London.
Donald Trump meets with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan on Capitol Hill in Washington.
But there are significant obstacles.
I asked a collection of conservative and moderate aides as well as GOP lobbyists, and nobody is sure this tweak will get the bill to 216 votes.
Moderate Republicans over the past weeks have promised to protect the protections for pre-existing conditions at town hall meetings, according to the report, meaning they could be less likely to support the updated bill. It is unclear how many moderate Republicans would shift to a "no". It would make essential health benefits - requiring plans to cover things like prescription drugs, maternity care and mental health services - the federal standard, but offer limited waivers to states that want to do things differently and can prove that doing so would lower the cost of health care or increase coverage.
States also could request waivers to Obamacare's ban on insurers charging sick customers higher premiums than healthy customers. States could circumvent the pre-existing coverage guarantee if they establish high-risk pools. The current deal-making has centered on what triggers would allow states to opt out and how much additional funding would be provided. To get those waivers, states would need to have high-risk pools government-backed insurance for the most seriously ill people, a mechanism that has often failed for lack of sufficient financing.
Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa., a leader of the moderate House Tuesday Group, said it "does nothing to change my views".
Of course, this is Congress that never finishes its work on time, so there are already discussions about needing an extension of a week or two to finish the talks and move the deal through the House and Senate. Much of the coverage loss stemmed from the reductions to Medicaid.
At the same time, a new Quinnipiac poll says that only 36 percent of American voters want Congress to try to "repeal and replace" Obamacare. Ted Cruz tried to use a funding deadline to scrap President Obama's health care law. It consists of a summary and bullet points rather than legislative language.



Comments