Republicans head to Philly to strategize on health care, tax reform, budget
WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans head to Philadelphia on Wednesday for a three-day retreat to plan an aggressive legislative agenda that includes repealing and replacing Obamacare, overhauling the tax system, rebuilding the military and figuring out a way to pay for President Trump's border wall.
"The president is eager to get moving on this agenda, and so are we," House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., told reporters Tuesday. "For too long, Washington has been too timid about addressing the big challenges facing our country. We want this to be a bold government. We want this to be a government of action."
The GOP lawmakers plan to hold joint House-Senate strategy sessions on tax reform, health care and national security. On Wednesday, Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., will host a session on their "200 Day Plan" for legislation. On Thursday, Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and British Prime Minster Theresa May will address the group in three separate meetings.
After sessions Thursday afternoon on "Keeping America Strong" and "Keeping Our Promise on Health Care," senators will head back to Washington. House members will attend a dinner featuring remarks by retired NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and others.
On Friday, after breakfast with a wounded Iraq War veteran, a bus will take interested House members and their families to Washington to participate in the "March for Life" anti-abortion rally.
Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide
Republican leaders said they are conscious of the fact that this is only the third time since World War II that Republicans have held both Congress and the White House, and they intend to seize the opportunity to enact as many of their priorities as they can.
"With this unified Republican government, we have a chance, we have a moment, to rethink the way things are done in D.C., to be hopeful, to be optimistic, and to look forward, not backward," said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., who serves as chairman of the House Republican Conference.
She said the Philadelphia retreat is important because "at the end of the day, it comes down to teamwork."
Read more:
Ryan invites Trump to address joint session of Congress on Feb. 28
Sen. Chuck Schumer 'worries' when it comes to Trump and facts
Among the toughest challenges facing Republican congressional leaders: coming up with a plan to replace the Affordable Care Act that can win the support of at least some Senate Democrats; and increasing spending for the military and paying for a wall on the U.S-Mexico border without raising taxes. They also are trying to find a way to balance the federal budget while funding Trump's priorities — including a massive new investment in the nation's highways, roads, bridges and transit systems.
House Democratic leaders said Tuesday they would support a replacement plan for Obamacare if Republicans can come up with legislation that would not reduce the number of Americans with medical coverage, would not increase premiums or deductibles, and would not re-impose lifetime caps on the amount of medical expenses that insurers will cover.
The plan also must preserve Obamacare provisions that guarantee coverage of people with pre-existing conditions and allow young adults to stay on their parents' insurance plans until age 26, Democrats said. Republicans have said they want to keep those provisions.
"Republicans, show me your plan, and if it does better than the ACA, deal me in," Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., the vice chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, told reporters Tuesday while expressing skepticism that Republicans will come up with a superior plan.
Republicans are still struggling with their new power now that they have a GOP president who is willing to sign what they pass on health care and other issues, said Rep. Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.
"I think there is a difference between running for office and running a campaign to obtain power," Crowley said. "And then it is something completely different to execute...that power, use the leverage. My Republican colleagues are figuring that out."
Crowley and Sanchez said they were disappointed that House Republicans made their top priority this week the passage of legislation that would permanently ban federal funding for abortions and prohibit federal medical facilities and health professionals from providing abortion services.
"Congressional Republicans and their leadership are focusing this week on furthering their attacks on women's health," Crowley said. "Instead of voting on legislation that would help grow families'...paychecks or give Americans better access to health care, we will be re-litigating a woman's right to choose in this nation. This is not how we should be spending our time here in Congress."
Although Republican House leaders have the power to push through legislation without Democratic support, that's not true in the Senate, where a 60-vote super-majority is still required to pass most major bills. Republicans can use a procedural tactic to repeal Obamacare with a simple majority of 51 votes, but they'll need 60 votes to replace the law. There are 52 Republicans in the Senate.