A top House Democrats threatened a possible government shutdown if Republicans scheduled a quick vote for their Obamacare repeal bill.
“If Republicans announce their intention to bring their harmful TrumpCare bill to the House Floor tomorrow or Saturday, I will oppose a one-week Continuing Resolution and will advise House Democrats to oppose it as well,” House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said in a statement Thursday.
The threat comes has rumors have circulated that Republicans are hopeful for a vote this weekend, in time for President Trump’s 100th day in office, on their recently revived health care overhaul bill, the American Health Care Act. In the meantime, Congress will need to pass a short-term funding bill by Friday to avert a government shutdown and give them a few more days to pass a longterm spending measure.
Trump appeared to respond to Hoyer’s threats in a tweet that referenced a provision in the short-term bill protecting miners’ health benefits.
I want to help our miners while the Democrats are blocking their healthcare.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 27, 2017
It’s unclear if GOP House leaders have the votes to bring the health care bill to the floor soon. The conservatives previously resistant to the legislation have come around after a new amendment was unveiled this week, but moderates who opposed the bill remain skeptical.
