The press swarmed members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus on Thursday after their meeting with President Trump regarding their concerns about the American Health Care Act. Photos suggested it got off to a good start - they gave the president a standing ovation as he walked into the room.
Lengthy standing ovation from the Freedom Caucus when @POTUS walked into the Cabinet Room just now. Big momentum toward #RepealAndReplace. pic.twitter.com/N1FLGAVFMN
— Cliff Sims (@CSims45) March 23, 2017
Yet, when the conversation ended, the caucus members told reporters they were not very optimistic about the revised bill, noting they were not offered anything new. Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) said it would be a "mistake" to hold the House vote on the legislation tonight.
"If there is a vote tonight, it will fail," he said, matter-of-factly.
His sentiments were echoed by many of his colleagues.
Freedom Caucus members streaming out of WH now. All say no deal made, no "firm" changes agreed to.
— Ben Kamisar (@bkamisar) March 23, 2017
House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-NC) put it just as bluntly: "No deal."
As of Wednesday, 25 members of the House Freedom Caucus said they were solid "no"s. That would be enough to torpedo the bill. With such uncertainty, will House Speaker Paul Ryan be forced to delay the vote?