Trump to Republicans: Vote for Obamacare repeal or lose your seat
'I'm asking for your vote on Thursday,' the president said.
By KYLE CHENEY, RACHAEL BADE and JOHN BRESNAHAN 03/21/17 05:23 AM EDT Updated 03/21/17 01:11 PM EDT
During a closed-door meeting with the House GOP conference, the president gave a full-throated endorsement to the House repeal bill that will come to the floor for a vote on Thursday. He warned that if Republicans don't pass the bill, "I honestly think many of you will lose your seats in 2018."
Trump even called out the bill's most vocal critic in the House, Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), who's led the conservative opposition to the Republican health care plan. "Mark, I'm gonna come after you" if he keeps it up, Trump said, according to multiple sources.
The sources cautioned that Trump may have been "half joking," as one put it. He winked and he smiled at Meadows, and acknowledged the congressman was a strong supporter of his campaign.
But singling out Meadows in front of his colleagues sent a clear message: Trump wants him to get in line. And fast.
"This Thursday we have a chance to repeal and replace Obamacare, and this time you've actually got someone who will sign the bill," Trump told them. "I'm asking for your vote."
Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and the House GOP leadership welcomed the presidential admonition to the GOP ranks ahead of Thursday's vote, which looks by all accounts to be a cliffhanger.
GOP leaders have projected confidence in passage, and they're optimistic that Trump's personal appeal to the conference will put the bill over the top. But House Freedom Caucus members emerged from a meeting Monday night claiming they have enough votes to block the legislation.
In that regard, the meeting might have been exactly what leadership needed. Trump made abundantly clear that he's all-in on the Republican health care plan, which could determine the course of his entire first-term legislative agenda.
The president was accompanied by Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price and White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, both of whom served in the House until recently. At one point, Trump joked that perhaps he shouldn't have plucked Mulvaney from the House because the vote is so close and he could use the vote.
Trump entered the meeting to loud cheers.
"We have a chance to do something fantastic, to do something amazing," Trump told the lawmakers, according to sources in the room.
He later added: "Many of you came in on the pledge to repeal and replace Obamacare. I honestly think many of you will lose your seats in 2018 if you don't get this done."
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