The moment the news broke that Republicans were pulling their bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act rather than watch it die on the House floor, the blame game commenced.
Though House Speaker Paul Ryan, moderate Republicans, congressional Democrats, and President Donald Trump all had fingers pointed in their direction for the health care bill’s failure, no group took more heat than the House Freedom Caucus—the few dozen hardline conservatives who opposed the bill after successfully pushing it farther to the right.
On Monday, Freedom Caucus spokesperson Alyssa Farah fired back on Twitter at the group’s critics, arguing that the bill was so bad that blocking its passage was a gift to Congress and President Trump—who would have suffered politically in future elections had it passed.
If you’re writing the Freedom Caucus killed the AHCA, you’re ignoring a dozen + moderates who were ‘Nos’ – including a Committee Chairman
— Alyssa Farah (@Alyssafarah) March 27, 2017
any1 familiar w/Cap Hill knows the public # of moderate “no’s” was likely a fraction of those that’d be no once the bill started going down
— Alyssa Farah (@Alyssafarah) March 27, 2017
From the get-go, this bill lacked the coalition support needed: everyone from Heritage to Club 4 Growth to AARP opposed the AHCA
— Alyssa Farah (@Alyssafarah) March 27, 2017
There is no excuse for Republicans passing a plan that fails to bring down premiums ASAP. That is our obligation. Period.
— Alyssa Farah (@Alyssafarah) March 27, 2017
“Governing” doesn’t mean passing bad policy. The AHCA was poorly rolled out, pushed thru on an artificial deadline & bad 4 American families
— Alyssa Farah (@Alyssafarah) March 27, 2017
By failing to undo large portions of Obamacare, the AHCA would’ve made the GOP complicit in further entrenching the disaster of Obamacare
— Alyssa Farah (@Alyssafarah) March 27, 2017
Politically, the GOP should thank the cons & mods who helped stop this bill 4 not sending them in midterms w/ higher premiums under AHCA
— Alyssa Farah (@Alyssafarah) March 27, 2017
The HFC roots for Trump’s success. The group could not in good conscience send him into ’20 reelection w/back-to-back yrs of higher premiums
— Alyssa Farah (@Alyssafarah) March 27, 2017
