House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Friday she does not envision a single House Democrat breaking ranks to vote in favor of the Obamacare replacement bill that GOP leaders are pushing on Capitol Hill.
“I don’t see any Democratic votes for what they are doing — none,” Mrs. Pelosi, California Democrat, told reporters at a breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor. “It isn’t even about Democrats or Republicans, it is about meeting the needs of the American people.”
Republicans advanced their proposal through two committees this week. The bill has come under fire from both conservative and liberal lawmakers.
President Trump and GOP leaders don’t have that much wiggle room.
Without buy-in from Democrats, they cannot afford to lose more than 21 Republicans in the House and more than two votes in the Senate.
Mrs. Pelosi said the Republican plan is a tax cut for the rich and will hurt the job market. She said the GOP should hold off on a vote until the Congressional Budget Office delivered a report on the impact of the proposal.
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Mrs. Pelosi also said she’d would be willing to work with Republicans to improve the Affordable Care Act, but suggested that is doubtful to happen.
“They are philosophically opposed to a government role [in health care],” she said.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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