Dem rep: GOP ‘playing Russian roulette’ with ObamaCare repeal vote

by Rebecca Savransky - 05/03/17 8:29 AM ET

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) said he thinks Republicans are playing “Russian roulette” regarding the vote on a revised House GOP proposal to repeal and replace ObamaCare.

“I think the Republicans are playing Russian roulette with this vote,” Connolly told Politico.

“There’s no question in competitive districts where you’ve got a potentially vulnerable Republican incumbent, this could make or break you.”

Connolly told the news outlet that Democrats feel “increasingly that public opinion has swung to our point of view.”

“And that accountability is going to be a big factor in next year’s election because of this vote,” Connolly said.

“There’s a cadre of 35 to 40 Republicans who are staring death in the face if they give their vote.”

{mosads}The revised GOP healthcare bill would allow states to waive certain ObamaCare provisions that prevent insurers from charging people more based on their health, often referred to as protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and require insurance plans to cover a minimum range of services, such as prescription drugs and mental health.

The provision for people with pre-existing conditions has become perhaps the biggest obstacle to passing the healthcare bill.

Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and other GOP leaders tried to tackle the issue during a conference meeting Tuesday, telling members there are “layers” of protection for the sick in the bill.

Those protections include the creation of new high-risk pools for people shut out of coverage and a provision stipulating that people with continuous insurance coverage can’t be denied for pre-existing conditions.

Tags Gerry Connolly Paul Ryan