President Trump said Wednesday he “was never planning” on issuing a replacement to Obamacare prior to the 2020 election, adding a plan is in development and will be used as a “campaign issue” next year.
“I was never planning a vote prior to the 2020 Election on the wonderful HealthCare package that some very talented people are now developing for me & the Republican Party. It will be on full display during the Election as a much better & less expensive alternative to ObamaCare,” Mr. Trump tweeted.
“This will be a great campaign issue. I never asked Mitch McConnell for a vote before the Election as has been incorrectly reported (as usual) in the [New York Times], but only after the Election when we take back the House etc. Republicans will always support pre-existing conditions,” he continued.
Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney told CNN Sunday they would pass a new plan to replace the Affordable Care Act “over the course of the next couple of months.”
New York Times writer Maggie Haberman also refuted Mr. Trump’s claim they “incorrectly reported” him asking Sen. Mitch McConnell for a vote on health care, adding they “quoted McConnell” directly.
“I made it clear to him that we were not going to be doing that in the Senate. He did say, as he later tweeted, that he accepted that and that he would be developing a plan that he would take to the American people during the 2020 campaign.” Mr. McConnell said Tuesday in The New York Times report.
While Mr. Trump has said Republicans will be known as “the party of health care,” he tweeted Monday they would resume efforts to replace Obamacare “when Republicans hold the Senate & win back the House.”
The Trump administration said late March the entire Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, is unconstitutional, due to Congress’ decision to gut the “individual mandate” to hold insurance.
• Bailey Vogt can be reached at bvogt@washingtontimes.com.
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