Republicans pull health reform bill moments before vote

House Republican leaders abruptly pulled a Republican rewrite of the nation’s health-care system from consideration on Friday, a dramatic acknowledgment that they are so far unable to repeal the Affordable Care Act (Source: “House Republican leaders abruptly pull their rewrite of the nation’s health-care law,” Washington Post, March 24, 2017).

“We just pulled it,” President Trump told the Washington Post in a telephone interview.

The decision means the Affordable Care Act remains in place, at least for now, and a major GOP campaign promise goes unfulfilled.

The decision came hours after Ryan visited the White House to warn Trump that despite days of intense negotiations and sales pitches to skeptical members, the legislation lacked the votes to pass. Trump had personally lobbied 120 lawmakers, either in person or on the phone, White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters on Friday.