- GOP Leaders Claim Momentum as Health Bill Clears Hurdles AP by Erica Werner and Alan Fram—Republican leaders drove their long-promised legislation to dismantle Barack Obama's health care law over its first big hurdles in the House on Thursday, claiming fresh momentum despite cries of protest from right, left and center. After grueling all-night sessions, the Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means committees both approved their portions of the bill along party-line votes. The legislation, strongly supported by President Donald Trump, would eliminate the unpopular tax penalties for the uninsured under the Affordable Care Act, replacing Obama's law with a conservative blueprint likely to cover far fewer people but—Republicans hope—increase choice.
- Nobody Wants Their Name on the Republican Health Care Bill CNN by MJ Lee—The White House says don't call it "Trumpcare." Critics are labeling it "Ryancare" and "Obamacare lite." Hospitals hate it and insurers are pushing the panic button. The House GOP bill to repeal Obamacare is quickly becoming a bill that nobody wants to own. Since its introduction this week, legislation from top House Republicans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act has drawn a flood of opposition from lawmakers and a range of health care leaders and industry stakeholders, including major doctors and hospital groups. While the bill's writers and the White House confidently insist that the plan will pass, they have been far less eager to put their names on it.
- After Halting Start, Trump Plunges into Effort to Repeal Health Law New York Times by Maggie Haberman and Robert Pear—President Trump, after a halting start, is now marshaling the full power of his office to win over holdout conservatives and waffling senators to support the House Republicans' replacement for the Affordable Care Act. There are East Room meetings, evening dinners and sumptuous lunches—even a White House bowling soiree. Mr. Trump is deploying the salesman tactics he sharpened over several decades in New York real estate. His pitch: He is fully behind the bill to scotch President Barack Obama's signature domestic achievement, but he is open to negotiations on the details.
- GOP Leaders Turn Up the Pressure on Reluctant Republicans To Support Obamacare Replacement Los Angeles Times by Lisa Mascaro and Noam Levey— Republican leaders worked frantically Wednesday to salvage their health care overhaul, warning naysayers in the party to join or risk being blamed for breaking the GOP's promise to repeal and replace Obamacare. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) insisted that President Trump was on their side and he sharpened his tone to push reluctant Republicans to embrace "what we've all been dreaming about," rather than doom the bill over their differences. Ryan said he had "no doubt" the bill would pass, brushing off discontent from opponents as the "inevitable growing pains" of tackling a difficult policy now that Republicans control the White House as well as Congress. "This is the choice we face: Are we going to stay with Obamacare and ride out the status quo?" Ryan said. "Or are we going to do what we said we'd do? Are we going to repeal and replace Obamacare with something better?"