House Republicans are celebrating a major victory over the Affordable Care Act (colloquially known as Obamacare). The House voted 217-213 on a repeal and replace bill Thursday. However, not every Republican is smiling.
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U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) was one of 20 Republicans to vote against the American Health Care Act (AHCA). Shortly after the vote, Massie explained his decision on Facebook:
"If this bill becomes law, it could result in worse outcomes, fewer options, and higher prices for Kentuckians who seek health care," said Massie. "In summary, I voted against this bill not because it’s imperfect, but because it’s not good.
For Massie, and a large handful of Republicans, the bill does not go far enough in encouraging a stronger free market approach to health insurance or fully repealing Obamacare. It's one of the big reasons why the Freedom Caucus didn't get behind previous attempts at reform.
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For others, the MacArthur Amendment, which was added to win over Republicans worried about provisions on pre-existing conditions, does not go far enough.
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If the vote in the House looks close, it may not compare to how close the vote will be in the Senate. Many reports suggest that it will be an uphill battle and the current bill will likely be significantly altered.
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