VP Mike Pence tells CNN he is "very confident" that Congress will come together to repeal and replace Obamacare https://t.co/qypGoG1BeM
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) April 19, 2017
Vice President Pence said Wednesday that the administration is “very confident” that Congress will repeal and replace ObamaCare in the near future.
“I am very confident that in the days ahead we are going to see the Congress come together and we are going to take that important first step to repeal and replace ObamaCare with the kind of healthcare reform that President Trump has envisioned,” Pence said in an interview with CNN that aired on Wednesday.
Despite last month’s failure to pass ObamaCare repeal legislation through the House, Pence said the White House is still committed to ending the law and replacing it.
{mosads}”President Trump made it clear that the first priority of this Congress should be to repeal and replace ObamaCare,” Pence said.
“And while it was clear that a little more than a month ago Congress wasn’t quite ready to do it, we’ve never relented in our commitment to keep that promise to the American people. … The president is determined to complete that promise,” he added.
Negotiations among Republicans in the House have continued since the bill was pulled from a floor vote due to objections from centrist and conservative GOP lawmakers.
Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), the leader of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, has voiced optimism that a deal could be made. But it remains difficult to see how differences among the Republicans can be bridged. Conservatives want to lower premium costs by reducing requirements on insurers, but centrists worry that will leave more people without insurance.
When asked if he thought that getting the votes to support the new ObamaCare repeal effort is imminent, Pence said “we will see” while noting that the administration is “very encouraged” by the ongoing negotiations.
“I think, we will see. But I will tell you, we are very encouraged at the discussions that are taking place among members of Congress,” he said.