Ryan: ‘Impressed’ by Trump’s involvement with Obamacare repeal

by Rebecca Savransky - 03/20/17 10:55 PM ET

Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) on Monday commended President Trump for his involvement with the Republican ObamaCare replacement plan ahead of the president’s Tuesday meetings on the Hill.

During an interview Monday night on Fox News’s “Hannity,” the Speaker expressed optimism that changes to the GOP plan — which were released at the same time that Ryan’s pre-taped interview aired — would bring in the needed GOP support.

He said a number of members had brought “a lot of good ideas to the table.”

“We all promised this. We all said we would repeal and replace ObamaCare if you give us a Republican president, a Republican House, a Republican Senate. Well, we have that now,” Ryan said.

{mosads}”And we’re working very closely with the administration. … I’m really, really impressed with the president himself rolling up his sleeves, getting involved, listening to members, brokering compromises, getting us on the same page and getting to this place.”

Ryan said he feels very good about “where we are.”

“We’re going to move this through the House and then go take it on over to the Senate,” said Ryan, who noted that he expects the bill in the Senate to be similar, though he would welcome further changes.

“We want them to improve it if they can,” he said. “If senators can make improvements to this bill, without jeopardizing what we call the Byrd Rule, meaning a filibuster, that’s great. We want them to improve this bill if they can.”

Trump on Tuesday will address the House Republican Conference ahead of the chamber’s Thursday vote on the GOP healthcare plan, known as the American Health Care Act.

Trump will likely try to appeal to more Republicans during an appearance at the conference’s weekly meeting.

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