Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA) said Thursday that he would not support Republicans’ latest attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare, scheduled for a vote Thursday afternoon.
On Tuesday, Reichert told the Seattle Times that he had spoken to President Trump about the repeal bill on the phone for about 10 minutes.
“I told the President I’d like to help, but I am not there yet,” Reichert said he told the President. The Times said he cited the lack of protections for people with pre-existing conditions, cuts to Medicaid and costs for middle-age people as his reasons for not supporting the bill.
After initially supporting Republicans’ first repeal effort, Reichert wouldn’t say after an amended version of the bill failed to receive a vote whether he would have voted it.
Politico’s Kyle Cheney posted a statement from Reichert explaining his vote Thursday. Reichert said “the current House bill falls short and does not provide the essential protections I need to support it.”
Rep. @davereichert explains why he's a NO on AHCA. pic.twitter.com/W4wTfmhji6
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) May 4, 2017
THAT’S our boy…we nailed him last night from WA on this POS…he knows he’s on thin ice. He’s only bordering on the extreme RW districts…
Reichert, incumbent from WA-08.
Cook PVI: EVEN
2016 President: Clinton 48%, Dumblefuck 45%
Motivation uncovered.
Anyone who has a calendar knows how close November 2018 is. Fear of the worst possible outcome will motivate the spineless critters. They will not upset that applecart or kill that golden goose or any metaphor of your choosing.
These guys know they are walking the plank by voting for this bill in the dark without knowing its costs that the CBO will announce next week. The same guys who accused Obama of “rushing” and “pushing” through Congress a health care bill that affects one-sixth of the economy are doing it before they even know what it will cost. The voters will make them pay for this clusterfuck.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2017/05/04/is-the-atrocious-health-care-bill-a-lose-lose-proposition-for-republicans/?tid=hybrid_collaborative_2_na&utm_term=.1f26274b966d
As a constituent who has phoned numerous times to his offices this past week, I am very very pleased he has finally made the right choice. Of course, the fact that HRC took his district last year loomed over his head, but nonetheless a good decision is a good decision.