It’s not just about free markets, its also about a governing majority. Many of the moderate members in favor of the bill and who opposed the HFC demands are in states where Hillary won and who are up for election a year from now. If they lose their seats there may not be a House Republican majority come 2018.
This is why the three-phase approach laid out in the Ryan plan was so ludicrous. Why would the whole "fix" rely on a Phase 3 that was never going to happen? Do you think any of these moderates were going to be more likely to vote for a true health care reform bill in 2019, 2020, or any year after that?
Why would you want conservative Republicans to betray their constituents (and their principles) just to protect the political futures of moderates in states that Hillary Clinton won?
I live in a state that Hillary Clinton won. My own Republican Congressman announced that he was opposed to the Ryan bill. When is Donald Trump going to send out a Twitter message sarcastically thanking him for preserving ObamaCare and Planned Parenthood funding?
Stages II and III are where most of EHBs become included (that the HFC opposes) and this would pass with 60 votes or more with Democratic support. What the HFC did was to inflict what many seem to think is a crippling blow to the Trump presidency that is now wounded, on the ground, and limping. Is this what we wanted? A self-inflicted mortal blow?