WASHINGTON: The Republican party celebrates remorse, and threats of retribution, as it fails to repeal former US president Barack Obama's healthcare law. President Donald Trump had pulled out all stops, including threatening hold-outs that he could have them defeated in elections if they wrecked the American Health Care Act (AHCA), also known as TrumpCare of RyanCare.
However, the Freedom Caucus remained firm on their decision claiming the bill did not meet their demands for a complete revoke of Obamacare. Later, it was Trump who directed House Speaker Paul Ryan to withdraw the bill rather than risk a humiliating floor defeat. Trump asserted that the vote would have been very close, but by all accounts, over 50 GOP lawmakers revolted against the bill, with several of them calling it Obamacare Lite.
Conservative legislators call for more free-market features, and less government subsidies, most of which benefit women, seniors, minorities, lower-income people. The recent defeat comes as a blow to Trump, who has frequently boasted of his ability to make deals. Trump slammed the Democrats, calling them “losers” in the battle over American healthcare. “The losers are Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer because now they own Obamacare,” he said. “They own it. One hundred per cent own it.” He said Obamacare would implode soon and he would be open to working with Democrats to craft a new legislation.
“It's going to happen (explode). There's not much you can do about it. Bad things are going to happen. There's not much you can do to help it. It's not sustainable.” While Obama remained mum over the defeat, Bernie Sanders called the cancelled vote a “major victory” for the American working class.
