Key Vote Alert – “NO” on the American Health Care Act (HR 1628)

KEY VOTE ALERT

“NO” on American Health Care Act (HR 1628)

The Club for Growth urges all House members to oppose the American Health Care Act (HR 1628).  A vote is expected as early as Thursday this week.  The vote will be included in the Club for Growth’s 2017 Congressional Scorecard.

Instead of offering a bill that fully or mostly repeals Obamacare, as Republicans promised last year on the campaign trail, this current proposal preserves too much of Obamacare’s main structure – thus affirming it – like the Medicaid expansion and the costly regulations that are causing premiums to rise.  Worse, we are skeptical of leadership’s argument that Senate rules don’t allow for repeal of certain regulations – especially when this bill already alters other regulations.  The House is unnecessarily (or purposely) using Senate rules to limit the scope of their bill.  Budget rules clearly allow for the House to repeal Obamacare regulations and enable nationwide competition.

Also, promises of repealing leftover elements of Obamacare at some later date when political courage – currently absent – will somehow be available, does not engender support now.  We recommend that the House drop consideration of HR 1628, pass full repeal and include replace language that will drive down costs, like expanded health savings accounts and interstate competition for insurance.  That will fulfill their promise to voters and create an environment for health care to finally become more affordable with less government interference.

Our Congressional Scorecard for the 115th Congress provides a comprehensive rating of how well or how poorly each member of Congress supports pro-growth, free-market policies and will be distributed to our members and to the public.

UPDATE (May 4, 2017): The Club supports the Meadows-MacArthur amendment to HR 1628, so it officially withdraws its opposition to the bill.  A vote on the overall bill is expected today.