Republican leaders launched a full-court press Tuesday to rally support for the party’s newly revealed health care plan as criticism mounted from rank-and-file members and prospects for the legislation appeared uncertain at best.
Vice President Mike Pence traveled to Capitol Hill to sell the GOP leadership’s plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act and met with those lobbing the heaviest criticism at the bill. President Trump met with Republican leaders at the White House to discuss the bill’s passage. Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price spoke at length during the daily briefing at the White House.
The chairmen of the relevant House committees, Reps. Kevin Brady and Greg Walden, who wrote the bill, held two news conferences (including one with House Speaker Paul Ryan) as they blanketed television news shows to sell the plan. The push came after many Republicans balked at the details of the bill when it was released late Monday. Some called the proposal “Obamcare Lite” while others questioned whether it would provide adequate coverage, demonstrating the challenges facing GOP leadership in trying to pass the legislation.
