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Morning Briefing

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Friday, May 5 2017

Full Issue

'This Is A Scar They Carry': Health Vote May Haunt Republicans Come Midterms

Democrats started signing 鈥淣a na na na, hey, hey, hey, goodbye..." as the legislation passed the House, predicting that it could spell electoral doom for some Republicans who voted to pass the American Health Care Act.

In voting to repeal President Barack Obama鈥檚 signature health care law, House Republicans finally made progress on a key Trump administration goal and on a campaign promise that they have made for the better part of a decade 鈥 but at a potentially steep price. (Steinhauer, 5/4)

By passing the American Health Care Act to replace Obamacare on Thursday, Republicans ensured that health care could determine the fate of their House majority in the 2018 midterm elections. As Democrats learned when they lost 63 House seats in the 2010 elections, keeping a political promise that upends the American health-care system can be a recipe for electoral disaster鈥攐ne they now hope befalls Republicans in 2018. (Epstein, 5/4)

"They have this vote tattooed on them. This is a scar they carry," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi declared just after the American Health Care Act passed the House. (Taylor, 5/5)

鈥淚 think they are staring death in the face,鈥 Representative Gerald E. Connolly, Democrat of Virginia, said about the political prospects of dozens of House Republicans who were persuaded to back the bill by Republican leaders anxious to deliver a legislative win. 鈥淭hey asked their vulnerable members to take an enormous gamble and risk on an act of faith that I guarantee will not pay off.鈥 (Hulse, 5/5)

Strategists in both parties already believed the House could be up for grabs in 2018, as it often is two years into a new presidency. But the Obamacare repeal vote was as emotionally charged as they come on Capitol Hill, and a handful of Republicans in districts won by Hillary Clinton may have very well written their political obituary by voting yes. (Robillard, 5/4)

Days after President Trump鈥檚 inauguration, Rep. Mimi Walters of California vowed聽to protect patients with pre-existing conditions in any plan to replace the Affordable Care Act. On Wednesday she cast a vote for a plan allows insurance companies in some cases to charge higher premiums to people with cancer, diabetes and other common preexisting conditions 鈥斅爀ven pregnancy. (Przybyla, 5/4)

All 14 Republicans in California鈥檚 congressional delegation voted Thursday to dismantle Obamacare, a move that could have ripple effects for the midterm elections 18 months from now as Democrats sense an opportunity to win back House control. Half of the 14 represent districts that backed Hillary Clinton for president last fall, and Democrats already are plotting to oust vulnerable Republicans on the same topic that swept them out of the majority following the 2010 Affordable Care Act vote. (Wire, 5/4)

Red-state Democratic senators who once hoped for a bipartisan fix to Obamacare now have nothing to work with but the House GOP鈥檚 repeal plan. So they鈥檙e lining up to trash it. All 10 Senate Democrats up for reelection next year in states won by President Donald Trump joined their leaders in vilifying the Obamacare repeal passed by the House passed Thursday. (Schor, 5/4)

Like boxers before a big fight, Republicans pumped themselves up with the pounding music of Survivor's 1980s anthem "Eye of the Tiger" and Bachman-Turner Overdrive's "Takin' Care of Business" before passing a bill to dismantle Democrat Barack Obama's health care law. Hours later, when lawmakers filled the House chamber Thursday afternoon to cast the final vote, Democrats answered with another song. (Jalonick, 5/5)

When it became clear on Thursday that Democrats in the United States House of Representatives could not defeat a bill to repeal and replace major parts of the Affordable Care Act, they turned to a time-honored American tradition: taunting the other side. 鈥淣a na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye,鈥 dozens of Democrats sang in unison as the health care bill crossed the 216 votes needed to pass. (Haag, 5/4)

Republicans might be relieved after pushing their health care plan through the House Thursday, but Democrats issued them a warning: That won鈥檛 last. After the vote, some House Democrats waved farewell to their GOP colleagues and then started singing, 鈥淣a na na na, hey, hey, hey, goodbye..." Democrats believe the health care bill 鈥 which Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said will strip coverage from millions 鈥 will backfire on House Republicans with voters when they come up for re-election next year. (Reiss, 5/4)

This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
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