As the country awaits an official score from the Congressional Budget Office on the President's Obamacare repeal bill, the White House is in a full press to sell the new legislation. Here are five ways the White House plans to get the American Health Care Act passed by Easter.
Get Republicans on the same page, with Speaker Ryan leading the way
Late last week House Speaker Paul Ryan, who is on the same page as the White House in support of the bill, literally rolled up his sleeves on Capitol Hill and warned fellow Republicans they have a binary choice to make.
Full-court press with the media
White House and senior administration officials are going to have a heavy presence on the airwaves and in the newspapers in the days and weeks to come. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price was on Meet The Press Sunday morning to sell the legislation with Special Counselor Kellyanne Conway on Good Morning America Monday. Unofficial Trump backers like Newt Gingrich will also be all over the place promoting the AHCA as the change Obamacare and the country need. According to Press Secretary Sean Spicer, the administration will take full advantage of local radio, television and op-ed placement to sell the bill.
Further, President Trump will continue to use social media to get his message across.
ObamaCare is imploding. It is a disaster and 2017 will be the worst year yet, by far! Republicans will come together and save the day.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 13, 2017
We are making great progress with healthcare. ObamaCare is imploding and will only get worse. Republicans coming together to get job done!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 11, 2017
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Despite what you hear in the press, healthcare is coming along great. We are talking to many groups and it will end in a beautiful picture!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 9, 2017
Hitting the road
President Trump will travel Wednesday for a repeal rally in Nashville, the first stop on his tour to sell AHCA. He'll also make two stops in Michigan. According to the White House, there will be more travel over the next few weeks with a goal of speaking directly to Americans and to encourage Representatives of congressional districts he visits to get on board.
Court groups currently in disagreement
Last week President Trump hosted a number of conservative and tea party activist groups opposed to AHCA (as it currently stands) at the White House. The goal was not only to sell the bill, but to listen to ideas and suggestions about how it can be improved.
"I think the President understands, as a businessman, that if someone’s got a really good idea that he’s going to listen to it. And if he can be part of the process to help make something better, there’s nothing that’s going to preclude that. We have been very open to listening to people," Spicer said last week. "We’re very proud of that. We’re going to go out, as I said, in full sell mode. But if there’s an idea that comes across, we’re going to entertain that to make it clear."
Liberal groups like the American Medical Association and AARP have also come out against the bill. President Trump plans to reach out to these groups and others in order to gain more support for his legislation.
"I think if people have ideas that will help provide a more patient-centered healthcare system that drives down cost, the President and the team here will be willing to meet with them," Spicer said.
Highlight Obamacare horror stories
Monday President Trump held a live round table listening session with Americans deeply and negatively affected by Obamacare through extreme price hikes, coverage loss and more. There are millions of people who have these stories and the White House plans to highlight them in order to get rid of Obamacare and pass the the AHCA.
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