Posted on 04/02/2017 4:48:29 AM PDT by Kaslin
For eight years, I have joined my colleagues in the fight to repeal and replace the train wreck that is Obamacare. This was the call heard around the nation for years, particularly leading up to President Trump's historic victory. We promised the American people that if they supported us, help would be on the way. As a conservative, I believe that the federal government should have a limited role in our personal lives, including health care. As a cancer patient, I knew the importance of getting this bill right and replacing Obamacare with a patient-centered solution that also ensures access to care for the nearly 30 percent of Americans with pre-existing conditions. But as the American Health Care Act teetered on the edge of a cliff, it was the Freedom Caucus that helped give it the final push.
How did we get here?
A little history. The truth is that while most Americans had no idea what the Freedom Caucus was until a few weeks ago when it became the official opposition to the Obamacare replacement plan, this group has quietly existed for a while. Two years ago, the most conservative members of the House – myself included – banded together to force leadership to give conservatives a seat at the table when negotiating major legislation. Our goal was to advance the most conservative agenda possible in Congress and give a voice to our constituents who felt that they did not have one. Until this year, we faced a president who opposed everything we stood for, and a leadership that excluded us. This year, that changed.
From start to finish, Speaker Ryan has gone out of his way to be inclusive, and President Trump literally brought us to the table, listening to our concerns, agreeing to some of the group’s demands, and changing the bill to be more conservative. The caucus asked for major concessions, and the bill was changed to include some of them. At a meeting at the White House, the president even agreed to change what is considered Essential Health Benefits by amending the bill to allow states to make that decision. But the goalpost kept moving further and further down the field. It became clear to me that no matter what was included and changed, the answer would still be no. That’s why I left the Freedom Caucus even though I agree with them on most issues and consider them my friends. The bill wasn’t perfect – no piece of legislation is – but it was absolutely far better than Obamacare. Like it or not, the reality of the makeup of the House and Senate is that if you demand a purist repeal of Obamacare, it will die on the floor. This was our chance to make meaningful change.
The Freedom Caucus served as a check on a liberal administration and former House leadership that repeatedly compromised with Democrats. Times have changed. Republicans – mostly conservatives – control it all now. It is our time to lead. It is our time to unify and deliver on the promises that we made for years. Those calling for otherwise have been in Washington long enough to know that you do not get everything you want in any bill.
We can no longer allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good. The American Health Care Act included major conservative reforms. It would have repealed the individual and employer mandates, reduced taxes, expanded health savings accounts, ensured access to coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, and allowed young adults to stay on their parents’ plan. It would have also defunded Planned Parenthood. Overall, this bill would have accomplished much of what we have been seeking all along, and the administration had committed to push forward what couldn’t be done in this bill separately.
I want to be part of the conservative majority that delivers solutions. Americans voted for solutions. Americans voted for help to make their lives easier and more affordable. We must give them the solutions they demand, that they deserve, and that we promised. I am encouraged that conversations have restarted within the House Republican Conference, and I hope that we can all get on the same page in the hymnal and produce a bill that delivers on our promise to the American people.
And that’s just the way it is.
RyanCare was not anything close to good.
REPEAL. Let the marketplace return.
The HFC was a part of the bills defeat but over100 republicans in the House opposed the bill, thats why no vote.
Ted Poe is a duplicitous, “mind-changing” (e.g., formerly anti-Amnesty but now ‘”open to it”) POLITICIAN with no core principles or values.
He’s a friggin’ WEASEL!
This guy is smart “the most conservative position possible”. Any other approach is succor to the libtards. It’s just the truth.
Sounds like he has plenty of principles to me.
Kudos Ted Poe
Q: Why not just repeal the mandate in a stand-alone bill and sort the rest out later?
>>It would have repealed the individual and employer mandates, reduced taxes, expanded health savings accounts, ensured access to coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, and allowed young adults to stay on their parents’ plan.<<
Whoop-de-Dooo!
What Ted The Sell-Out’s plan wouldn’t do, among many others things:
Repeal Obamacare.
Replace Obamacre.
Reduce premiums.
Reduce deductibles.
Provide for interstate access to insurance markets.
Permit plan flexibility.
Eliminate coverage for illegals.
Sorry Teddy bear. If you want this thing, you’re welcome to it. See ya around.
The Freedom Caucus is a pack of saboteurs who do nothing but help the democrats.
They saved Obamacare, called on Trump to withdraw from the presidential race last October and refused to vote for him (Justin Amash).
Then there’s this:
Rep. Justin Amash Hammers Trump’s ‘Unlawful’ Immigration Ban (Freedom Caucus)
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3539650/posts
They will soon be gone.
Poor lil insurance companies, losing money cause their darling black president didn't deliver the profits they'd hoped. Really chaps my hide.
Now the insurance companies have gone silent. I want someone to shout it loudly from the hill tops...you insurance execs helped cause this, you insurance companies can help get us out of it.
...I knew the importance of getting this bill right and replacing Obamacare with a patient-centered solution...
Why have the gubment involved at all? To say I'm disappointed in Poe, would be an understatement!
Yeah, just because he had cancer, and probably spent a lot of time with other Americans with cancer, how dare he have any input into the insurance program. He has congressional coverage so it’s not that he is being selfish and self centered. We certainly don’t want anyone in congress with compassion representing us!
Liberty Score “C.”
Wait... Are we allowed to reference ConservativeReview.com?
“Ted Poe is a duplicitous, POLITICIAN with no core principles or values.”
LOL. I have bad news for you. The chairman of the Freedom Caucus just changed his position again (3rd time in 2 weeks) and is ready to support Ryancare if community rating gets scraped:
A bill will pass later, without all the preening opposition. The FC will claim victory, while the bill will be about the same as it is now.
The Republicans know that they can’t face reelection (ALL House members) without at least “fixing” Obamacare. They will, of course, claim that they have “repealed and replaced” Obamacare by changing the name.
Watching hot dogs being made would turn anyone’s stomach, but a little mustard, some relish, maybe some onions or chili, and VOILA! LUNCH!
So, having been watching this hot dog being made, it was rejected. Once the memory of the slurry of those lips, rectums, etc. have left our minds, all they will have to decide is which condiments they want.
What happened to H. R. 3762?
Passed Senate amended (12/03/2015)
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/3762
March 27, 2017
Magic Bullet: Just Pass the Health Care Bill Obama Vetoed
Reality101:
RyanCare was ObozoCare-LITE.
The HFC saved America ( and Trump) from enacting a new law that did NOT REPEAL or REPLACE.
“But the goalpost kept moving further and further down the field. It became clear to me that no matter what was included and changed, the answer would still be no.”
Exactly. The Freedom Caucus went into the meeting with Trump, holding the Bible high. Then the Freedom Caucus left the meeting, put the Bible down and then they started lying! These are the same people who were ok with Hillary picking the Supreme Court justices.
there are many in the HFC who are Cinos...conservatives in name only.
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