Where the Health Care Overhaul bill stands on Thursday morning

High stakes for Trump on GOP health care bill

By KEN THOMAS and CATHERINE LUCEY
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump knows he’ll be judged on whether he can help repeal the so-called “Obamacare” law and replace it with something new.

The White House is dealing with criticism from conservatives and moderate Republicans alike, and is considering changes to the bill that might reassure skeptics. It’s all in an effort to muscle the GOP-backed health care plan through the House next week.

Trump has signaled he’s open to negotiation in his first attempt working with Congress.

At a rally Wednesday in Nashville, Trump said “we’re going to arbitrate, we’re going to all get together, we’re going to get something done.”

Trump made repealing and replacing his predecessor’s health care law a core campaign promise, although he has acknowledged he was surprised at how complex the task would be.

(Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Thank you Nashville, Tennessee! pic.twitter.com/6snvQ0DzXN

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 16, 2017

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House GOP health bill facing fresh House committee test

By ALAN FRAM
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) – The White House and Republican leaders are talking to rank-and-file lawmakers about revising the GOP health care overhaul. They’re hoping to keep a rebellion by conservatives and moderates from imperiling the party’s priority legislation.

Signs of fraying GOP support are showing four days after a congressional report projected the bill would pry coverage from millions of voters. The measure would strike down much of former President Barack Obama’s 2010 overhaul and reduce the federal role, including financing, for health care consumers and is opposed uniformly by Democrats.

The House Budget Committee is set to consider the measure Thursday. Republicans expressed confidence the bill would be approved, but the vote could be tight. The panel can’t make significant changes but was expected to endorse non-binding, suggested changes to nail down votes.

(Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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GOP health plan: Tax cuts for rich; hits older people hard

By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) – The House Republican health care plan provides big tax cuts for wealthy families and insurance companies, but it hits older people hard.

Many older Americans would face higher health insurance premiums and smaller tax credits to help obtain coverage.

In all, the bill provides $883 billion in tax relief by repealing almost all of the taxes enacted under President Barack Obama’s health law. That’s according to the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation, the official tax scorekeeper for Congress.

The vast majority of those taxes targeted the families with high incomes.

Wealthier households would also benefit under the GOP plan because the credits used to obtain coverage are available to people with higher incomes.

The tax credits in Obama’s law aimed to help low- to moderate-income families.

(Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)