Freedom Caucus Backs House Repeal Bill, Heritage Offers Tepid Support
By Jennifer Haberkorn Politico April 26, 2017
The House Freedom Caucus today threw its support behind the Obamacare repeal bill that includes a new amendment from Rep.Tom MacArthurthat would allow states to opt out of some of the health law’s consumer protections.
The hard-line conservative group’s endorsement was expected. It puts pressure on both party moderates who’ve withheld support for the measure and on GOP leaders to bring the bill to the floor.
“While the revised version still does not fully repeal Obamacare, we are prepared to support it to keep our promise to the American people to lower healthcare costs,” the Freedom Caucus said in a statement.
So far, no GOP moderates who opposed the original repeal bill have publicly flipped to support the measure.
The outside group Heritage Action, which typically takes similar positions to the Freedom Caucus, released a more tepid statement of support for the revised bill. The group said it would withdraw its key vote against the measure.
“To be clear, this is not full repeal and it is not what Republicans campaigned on or outlined in the Better Way agenda,” CEO Michael A. Needham said in a statement. “The amendment does, however, represent important progress in what has been a disastrous process.”