GOP rep: Health bill ‘one of the worst’ I’ve seen

Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) says the House GOP’s bill to repeal and replace ObamaCare “is one of the worst bills” he’s seen in his entire career.

“It is one of the worst bills I have seen in my 30 years as a county commissioner, legislator, district attorney and now congressman,” Brooks said Friday on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”

The House Freedom Caucus member, who came out against the American Health Care Act (AHCA) on Tuesday, told CNBC he’s “not going to surrender on an issue as important as ObamaCare.” Far from rolling back ObamaCare, he said, the legislation lets government and welfare programs balloon.

{mosads}

“You’ve also got a bill that is the largest welfare program ever proposed in the history of the Republican Party,” he said.

President Trump directly challenged the House Freedom Caucus on Friday to support Republican leadership’s plan.

“The irony is that the Freedom Caucus, which is very pro-life and against Planned Parenthood, allows P.P. to continue if they stop this plan!” he tweeted.

“After seven horrible years of ObamaCare (skyrocketing premiums & deductibles, bad healthcare), this is finally your chance for a great plan!”

The House voted to begin debate on the controversial legislation Friday, paving the way for a cliffhanger vote later in the afternoon.

GOP leaders cannot afford more than 22 defections in the House assuming all voting Democrats oppose the AHCA. Brooks is one of 34 House Republicans who oppose the legislation before Friday’s vote, according to The Hill’s Whip List.