News / Politics

US House passes Obamacare repeal in victory for Trump

Thursday, 04 May 2017 8:14 PM [ Last Update: Friday, 05 May 2017 1:39 AM ]

US House Speaker Paul Ryan speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House following the House of Representative vote on the health care bill on May 4, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by AFP)

The US House of Representatives has narrowly passed legislation to repeal and replace former President Barack Obama’s signature health insurance program, known as Obamacare.

In the most contentious congressional vote of Trump's presidency, lawmakers on Thursday voted 217 to 213 to pass the bill, the American Health Care Act, and to dismantle Obama’s Affordable Care Act.

No Democrats backed the bill, but some 20 Republicans voted in opposition. The vote is a victory for President Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan after they suffered a crushing defeat in March.

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Republicans were forced to pull the measure because of a lack of votes, with Speaker Ryan admitting that the party was not able to reach consensus on the replacement bill. Trump had blamed Democrats and promised that Obamacare would “explode.”

Just before the vote, Ryan declared on the House floor, "This bill delivers on the promises that we have made to the American people.”

“A lot of us have been waiting seven years to cast this vote," added.

"Today we made history by taking the first important step toward rescuing hardworking families from the failures and skyrocketing costs of Obamacare," House Majority Whip Steve Scalise said in a statement issued following the vote.

During the voting, Trump tweeted Republicans would gather for "big press conference at the beautiful Rose Garden of the White House" immediately afterwards.

US President Donald Trump (center) and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (third from left) in the Rose Garden of the White House following the House of Representative vote on the health care bill on May 4, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by AFP)

Health care experts from across the political spectrum have said that the House Republican health care bill was unworkable and suffered from fatal flaws and could lead to Americans dropping out of the health care market.

Experts agree that the bill fails to reach the objectives laid forth by Trump, which includes affordable coverage for everyone; lower deductibles and health care costs and better care.

Businessman-turned-politician Trump, within hours of taking the oath of office on January 20, fulfilled one of his most impassioned promises he had made during his presidential campaign and signed an executive order to “ease the burden of Obamacare," which covers some 20 million Americans.

Republicans had already criticized Obamacare as an excessive government intrusion into the health care market and contended that it was harming economic growth by burdening businesses.

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