Amash Calls the Hype over Healthcare Bill "Exaggeration from Both Parties"

Photo by Gage Skidmore

If you want the best possible look at a piece of House legislation, it’s usually a good bet to turn to the congressman from Michigan’s 3rd District, Justin Amash. The libertarian congressman voted for the GOP’s repeal and replace measure for Obamacare yesterday. He said in a tweet that there was a “lot of exaggeration from both parties about its effects.” The bill passed by the narrowest of margins, and will now move on to the Senate. All but one of the House Freedom Caucus members voted for the repeal bill.

Tough vote today. I decided only after I had read and understood the entire bill. A lot of exaggeration from both parties about its effects.

— Justin Amash (@justinamash) May 4, 2017

TheHill.com writes of the vote:

The Freedom Caucus first opposed the American Health Care Act (AHCA) in March, saying it did fulfill the Republican promise to fully repeal and replace ObamaCare. Amash called the initial legislation a “disaster.”

Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) pulled the first GOP plan before a vote in late March after failing to garner enough support. Amash and a number of others opposed to the initial measure supported the revised plan on Thursday.

The House narrowly approved the legislation by a party-line 217-213 vote, with 20 Republicans splitting with their party and joining all Democrats in voting against the bill.

The passing of this bill is a major success for GOP leaders, who joined President Trump at the White House Rose Garden to celebrate their victory following the bill’s passage.

Trump said Thursday he is confident the bill will become law, despite major hurdles in the Senate, where lawmakers are expected to propose major changes to the legislation.