WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 23: U.S. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan leaves a meeting of the House Republican caucus, that White House chief strategist Steve Bannon and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus also attanded, at the U.S. Capitol March 23, 2017
How are Wisconsin’s representatives voting on the Obamacare replacement bill?
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R) is about as firm a “yes” on the AHCA as can be expected. The Janesville rep has led the effort with President Trump and other GOP leaders to attempt to ensure its passage. The bill failing in his chamber would be a blow to his credibility as Speaker.
ll of Wisconsin’s Democrats are expected to vote “no” on the House version of the AHCA. Rep. Mark Pocan (D) won’t be the one to break that trend – the Madison-area legislator has compared the GOP bill to a “Trojan horse to give tax breaks to the wealthiest in this country.”
Rep. Ron Kind (D), who represents the La Crosse and Eau Claire area, appears to agree with his colleague Rep. Mark Pocan. He has argued that much of Obamacare is effective, and, like Pocan, thinks “the wealthiest 1 percent will receive a $200,000 yearly tax break” if the bill passes.
The trend of Democratic lawmakers voting “no” on Obamacare’s replacement continues with Rep. Gwen Moore (D). Milwaukee’s congresswoman made it clear on her Twitter account Friday morning that Speaker Ryan could not count on her to help pass the AHCA, saying “Down w/ Trumpcare!”
“I support the American Health Care Act and encourage my colleagues to do the same,” a column on Rep. James Sensenbrenner’s (R) website reads. The longest-serving member of Wisconsin’s delegation has been a reliable Republican vote since 1979, and it doesn’t look like health care will be the issue to change that.
Rep. Glenn Grothman (R) may be one of the (relatively) bigger question marks when it comes to Wisconsin’s members of the House of Representatives, though it’s still quite likely he ends up voting yes. The Sheboygan County representative helped the AHCA get out of comittee, but with the understanding modifications could be made on the House floor. More recently, he said “Who wants to be the butt-head that keeps Obamacare going?”
Rep. Sean Duffy (R), who represents the Wausau area, has stopped short of giving a firm “yes” to the AHCA so far. He has, however, gone on record to encourage his GOP colleagues to “sheath their swords” and rally behind the bill. “Let’s start to work together to acknowledge that Obamacare is bad for America,” he said.
Rep. Mike Gallagher (R), Wisconsin’s newest member of the House of Representatives, has said he isn’t sure how he’ll vote on the GOP health care plan. “Getting coverage is meaningless if you’re not getting the healthcare access and the healthcare that you actually need,” he told WTAQ-AM. Wisconsinites will have to wait until his name is called to see if he’s a yes or a no.