Amash: ‘A lot of exaggeration’ from both sides on health bill

Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) said Thursday that there is “a lot of exaggeration” by both Republicans and Democrats over the GOP healthcare bill that narrowly passed the House earlier in the day.

Amash, a prominent member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus who voted in support of the bill aimed at repealing and replacing ObamaCare, called it a “tough vote” on Twitter.

Tough vote today. I decided only after I had read and understood the entire bill. A lot of exaggeration from both parties about its effects.

— Justin Amash (@justinamash) May 4, 2017

The Freedom Caucus first opposed the American Health Care Act in March, saying it did not fulfill the Republican promise to fully repeal and replace ObamaCare. Amash called the initial legislation a “disaster.”

{mosads}Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) pulled the first GOP plan before a vote in late March after failing to garner enough support. Amash and a number of others opposed to the initial measure supported the revised plan on Thursday.

The House narrowly approved the legislation by a 217-213 vote, with 20 Republicans splitting with their party and joining all Democrats in voting against the bill.

The passing of this bill is a major success for GOP leaders, who joined President Trump at the White House Rose Garden to celebrate their victory following the bill’s passage.

Trump said Thursday he is confident the bill will become law despite major hurdles in the Senate, where lawmakers are expected to propose significant changes to the legislation.