The Hill's Whip List: Where Republicans stand on ObamaCare repeal plan

Republican leaders are aiming to move quickly on legislation to repeal and replace ObamaCare, with a vote by the full House slated for Thursday.

But the plan faces a difficult path. Conservatives were quick to criticize the legislation, saying it falls short of full repeal and would create new entitlements. Centrist Republicans and many from districts won by Hillary Clinton in 2016 have also balked at measures rolling back the Medicaid expansion or defunding Planned Parenthood.

A number of conservative lawmakers in the Republican Study Committee, though, backed the bill after a Friday meeting with President Trump. Trump and GOP leaders are working on changes to the legislation that would change how it handles tax credits and create a work requirement for Medicaid.

Members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, however, say those changes may not be enough.

With a vote in days, the margin for error is slim. Assuming all Democrats vote against the legislation, GOP leaders cannot afford more than 21 defections in the House and two in the Senate.

Here's a list of how Republican lawmakers stand on the ObamaCare repeal and replace legislation. The Hill will update this list. Please send updates to mmali@thehill.com.

RECENT UPDATES: Reps. Paul Cook (Calif.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), John Ratcliffe (Texas), Blake FarentholdBlake FarentholdFederal court: Texas House districts must be redrawn House passes bill to curb class-action lawsuits The Hill's Whip List: Where Republicans stand on ObamaCare repeal plan MORE (Texas), Robert AderholtRobert AderholtGOP speeding toward vote on altered healthcare bill The Hill's Whip List: Where Republicans stand on ObamaCare repeal plan A guide to the committees: House MORE (Ala.), John Katko (N.Y.), Warren Davidson (Ohio), Lou Barletta (Pa.), Gary Palmer (Ala.), Mark Sanford (S.C.), Peter King (N.Y.), Claudia Tenney (N.Y.), David Young (Iowa), Bruce Poliquin (Maine), Daniel Webster (Fla.), Lloyd Smucker (Pa.) and Leonard Lance (N.J.); Sens. Ted CruzTed CruzCruz on wiretapping claim: 'The notion is not necessarily outlandish, but it's serious' Cruz: Gorsuch will be on the Supreme Court 'within a month or two' Sunday shows preview: Healthcare, White House budget in spotlight MORE (Texas), Dean Heller (Nev.), Susan Collins (Maine), Bill Cassidy (La.), Steve Daines (Mont.) and James Lankford (Okla.).

 

HOUSE REPUBLICANS

No (17)

Rep. Justin Amash (Mich.) — Amash called the bill “Obamacare 2.0” in a tweet shortly after it was released.

Rep. Dave Brat (Va.) — Brat voted against the bill in the House Budget Committee.

Rep. Warren Davidson (Ohio) — “If we called the votes today, I would be a no,” Davidson told NPR on March 16.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.) — "[I]n its current form I cannot support this legislation," Fitzpatrick wrote in a statement posted to Facebook on March 18.

Rep. Tom Garrett (Va.) — Garrett told The John Fredericks Radio Show he would vote against the bill on March 7. In an interview on CNN on March 14, he stressed that: “Right now, I am a firm no.”

Rep. Louie Gohmert (Texas) — “Just one thing is not going to fix it,” Gohmert said on Fox News after the bill's release.

Rep. Darrell Issa (Calif.) — Issa said he is "not prepared" to vote for the bill "as it is right now." Hillary ClintonHillary Rodham ClintonTrump tweets ahead of Comey hearing: Dems pushing 'Russia story' Ryan-aligned group pressures vulnerable Republicans to support healthcare bill Week ahead: Lawmakers to press Comey on Russian hacking, Trump 'wiretap' claims MORE won Issa's district last fall, and he is a Democratic target in 2018.

Rep. Walter Jones (N.C.) — Jones has bucked GOP leaders on a number of occasions.

Rep. Jim Jordan (Ohio) — Jordan, a former chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, has said he would unveil his own clean repeal bill.

Rep. John Katko (N.Y.) — "Despite some promising reforms, I do not support the proposal before the House in its current form," Katko said in a statement on March 17.  Hillary Clinton won Katko's district in November.

Rep. Steve King (Iowa) — The outspoken conservative lawmaker is a no.

Rep. Raúl Labrador (Idaho) — "We need to make sure that we repeal and replace ObamaCare. But this bill is not it," Labrador said on CNN's "The Situation Room" on March 9.

Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.) — Massie told the Washington Examiner on March 7 that the bill was a "stinking pile of garbage." He also voted in January against the budget resolution that began the process of repealing ObamaCare.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Fla.) — The GOP lawmaker tweeted on March 14 that she plans to vote no on the current bill, saying it leaves "too many" people in her south Florida district uninsured. Hillary Clinton won Ros-Lehtinen's district by nearly 20 points.

Rep. Mark Sanford (S.C.) — Sanford voted against the bill in the House Budget Committee. He is also a member of the Freedom Caucus.

Rep. Rob Wittman (Va.) — “After reviewing this legislation and receiving the Congressional Budget Office score today, it is clear that this bill is not consistent with the repeal and replace principles for which I stand,” Wittman said in a statement on March 13.

Rep. Ted Yoho (Fla.) — “I could not support the bill as it is right now,” Yoho said on “PBS Newshour” on March 14.

 

Leaning/Likely No (8)  

Rep. Mark Amodei (Nev.) — Amodei told the AP he would likely vote against the bill as it stands after the release of the CBO’s score. He said he wanted more hearings on the bill.

Rep. Lou BarlettaLou BarlettaWork begins on T infrastructure plan The Hill's Whip List: Where Republicans stand on ObamaCare repeal plan Let D.C. set its immigration enforcement policy MORE (Pa.) — Barletta is leaning no.

Rep. Mo Brooks (Ala.)  — "This legislation is not a repeal, it is an amendment to ObamaCare," Brooks told The Hill on March 8. Brooks also said leaders don't have the votes to pass the legislation.

Rep. Peter King (N.Y.) — King told reporters on March 15 he's leaning "slightly against it," citing the bill's rollback of the Medicaid expansion. "The reality is I have thousands and thousands of constituents who are on it."

Rep. Leonard Lance (N.J.) — Lance said on CNN that he is leaning no. "I do not want to vote on a bill that has no chance of passing over in the Senate,” Lance told CNN, a day after the CBO report. "The CBO score has modified the dynamics.” Lance, who hails from a district won by Hillary Clinton, voted for the measure in the Energy and Commerce Committee before the CBO report came out.

Rep. Mark Meadows (N.C.) — The chairman of the House Freedom Caucus said a proposed work requirement for Medicaid to win over conservative votes only moves the bill "a couple of yards" down the field.

Rep. Claudia Tenney (N.Y.) — “Just looking at what the CBO report came out with, and some of the issues in New York, I'm leaning toward voting no,” Tenney told Syracuse.com.

Rep. David Young (Iowa) — "I'm not right now supporting the bill," Young told a local radio station on March 15, "but I'm not opposing it, either. I'm looking at it. I want to make sure it is something that works in the end for all Americans, and that it would pass if it gets over to the Senate.

 

Unclear or Uncertain (12)

Rep. Ken Buck (Colo.) — Buck told the Denver Post on March 8 that he has concerns with how the legislation handles the Medicaid expansion.

Rep. Steve Chabot (Ohio) — "I hope to be able to support the legislation in its final form," Chabot told the Cincinnati Enquirer in a story published March 7.

Rep. Paul Cook (Calif.) —  Cook told constituents he had a "lot of questions" about the bill and was undecided in a Facebook video on March 17.

Rep. Charlie Dent (Pa.) — “I remain concerned, however, about the impact of the Medicaid changes on vulnerable populations, as well as the overall effect of the bill on access to affordable care,” Dent said in a statement on March 7. The centrist voted in January against the budget resolution that began the process of repealing ObamaCare.

Rep. Scott DesJarlais (Tenn.) — A DesJarlais spokesman told the Commercial Appeal in a story published March 7 that the lawmaker is waiting to make a “full evaluation” after the CBO releases its numbers.

Rep. Paul Gosar (Ariz.) — The Freedom Caucus member told The Hill on March 8 that it was a "bad bill." And he told the Huffington Post he was "elected to this position to do my job, not the job the president tells me," questioning whether Trump could sway him.

Rep. Frank LoBiondo (N.J.) — In a Facebook post on March 11, LoBiondo said he was reviewing the legislation “thoroughly, am having meetings with my colleagues to see if we have any opportunities to improve the bill, and await additional analysis next week.”

Rep. Tom MacArthur (N.J.) — Voted in January against the budget resolution that began the process of repealing ObamaCare. “I don’t know how I’m going to vote,” MacArthur said at a town hall on March 6, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer, “if we pull the rug out from under the most vulnerable, I can’t support that.”

Rep. Bruce Poliquin (Maine) — Poliquin told the Maine Sun Journal he “might have drafted this new plan a bit differently,” but said he was “encouraged” by many of its elements.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (Calif.) — “He's not a member of the relevant committees, but is waiting to see the final product of negotiations, determined as he is to see ObamaCare gone," Rohrabacher spokesman Ken Grubbs wrote in an email to The Hill.

Rep. Daniel Webster (Fla.) — “While I am strongly committed to repealing the failed Affordable Care Act and adopting real healthcare reform, I have concerns with both proposals,” Webster said in a newsletter to constituents about the GOP leadership plan and one from Sen. Rand Paul for a clean repeal.

Rep. Don Young (Alaska) — Young on March 7 said he was reviewing the bill. “I remain committed to listening to the thoughts and concerns of the Alaskan people and doing my part to improve this legislation in areas it falls short,” he said in a statement. 

 

YES (74)

Rep. Robert Aderholt (Ala.) - "I changed my vote to yes," Aderholt said after meeting with Trump and getting assurances the bill would be changed.

Rep. Jodey Arrington (Texas) - Voted to advance the bill in the House Budget Committee.

Rep. Jim Banks (Ind.) — "I committed to President Trump that I would support this plan if it contains the changes we agreed to today," Banks, a member of the Republican Study Committee, said in a statement on March 17.

Rep. Andy BarrAndy BarrThe Hill's Whip List: Where Republicans stand on ObamaCare repeal plan A guide to the committees: House How we can boost the economy through foreign direct investment MORE (Ky.) – Barr, an RSC member, said he was backing the bill after a meeting with Trump.

Rep. Joe Barton (Texas) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Jack Bergman (Mich.) - Voted to advance the bill in the House Budget Committee.

Rep. Gus Bilirakis (Fla.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Mike Bishop (Mich.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Rep. Diane BlackDiane BlackDems wonder: Can GOP even pass a budget? Budget panel advances ObamaCare bill with three GOP defections ­ObamaCare showdown set in Budget Committee MORE (Tenn.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Rep. Susan BrooksSusan BrooksWomen2Women Agenda proving the political system is not broken The Hill's Whip List: Where Republicans stand on ObamaCare repeal plan A guide to the committees: House MORE (Ind.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Vern Buchanan (Fla.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Rep. Larry BucshonLarry BucshonThe Hill's Whip List: Where Republicans stand on ObamaCare repeal plan A guide to the committees: House Republicans who oppose, support Trump refugee order MORE (Ind.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Michael BurgessMichael BurgessAds dare conservatives to oppose Trump on health plan GOP rep: I want people to have both iPhones and healthcare The Hill's Whip List: Where Republicans stand on ObamaCare repeal plan MORE (Texas) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Marsha BlackburnMarsha BlackburnWeek ahead: Robocall crackdown tops FCC meeting agenda The Hill's 12:30 Report Overnight Tech: Ad industry urges Congress to eliminate FCC privacy rules | Yahoo offers Google help in data fight | Facebook bans use of its data for surveillance MORE (Tenn.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Buddy Carter (Ga.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Tom Cole (Okla.) - Voted to advance the bill in the House Budget Committee.

Rep. Chris Collins (N.Y.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Ryan Costello (Pa.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Kevin Cramer (N.D.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Carlos Curbelo (Fla.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (Fla.) — Voted to advance the bill in the House Budget Committee.

Rep. Blake Farenthold (Texas) — Farenthold told the Dallas News he went from undecided to yes after an Oval Office meeting March 17.

Rep. John Faso (N.Y.) – Voted to advance the bill in the House Budget Committee

Rep. Drew Ferguson (Ga.) – Voted to advance the bill in the House Budget Committee.

Rep. Bill FloresBill FloresThe Hill's Whip List: Where Republicans stand on ObamaCare repeal plan Conservative chairman faces blowback over ObamaCare statement A guide to the committees: House MORE (Texas) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (Fla.) - Voted to advance the bill in the House Budget Committee.

Rep. Morgan GriffithMorgan GriffithGOP whip won't commit to new CBO score before vote Medicaid work requirements could be added to ObamaCare bill The Hill's Whip List: Where Republicans stand on ObamaCare repeal plan MORE (Va.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Glenn Grothman (Wis.) - Voted to advance the bill in the House Budget Committee.

Rep. Brett GuthrieBrett GuthrieThe Hill's Whip List: Where Republicans stand on ObamaCare repeal plan Congress should take a cue from Arkansas’s Medicaid expansion freeze A guide to the committees: House MORE (Ky.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Gregg Harper (Miss.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Jeb Hensarling (Texas) - "It could be more market-oriented, but at the end of the day, at some point you’re given a binary choice: either ObamaCare or some other bill,” Hensarling, a member of the RSC told local station KERA on March 10. “As long as the other bill improves it, I’m going to vote for it."

Rep. George Holding (N.C.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Rep. Richard Hudson (N.C.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Lynn Jenkins (Kan.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Rep. Bill Johnson (Ohio) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Sam JohnsonSam JohnsonEnd the ban on physician-owned hospitals The Hill's Whip List: Where Republicans stand on ObamaCare repeal plan A guide to the committees: House MORE (Texas) —  "I’m pleased that — with a Republican in the White House — we are finally able to move forward with a real plan to repeal and replace Obama’s disastrous law," said Johnson in a statement.

Rep. Mike Kelly (Pa.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (Ill.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Bob Latta (Ohio) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Jason Lewis (Minn.) — Voted to advance the bill in the House Budget Committee.

Rep. Billy Long (Mo.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Barry Loudermilk (Ga.) ­— A member of the RSC, Loudermilk told the Atlanta Journal Constitution he was a yes after meeting with Trump.

Rep. Kenny Marchant (Texas) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Rep. Patrick Meehan (Pa.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Rep. David McKinleyDavid McKinleyThe Hill's Whip List: Where Republicans stand on ObamaCare repeal plan A guide to the committees: House Overnight Regulation: Republicans put Obama coal rule on chopping block MORE (W.Va.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Tom McClintock (Calif.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Budget Committee.

Rep. Markwayne Mullin (Okla.) — The Republican Study Committee member told the Hill on March 15 that he is a firm yes. He also voted to advance the legislation in the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Tim Murphy (Pa.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Kristi Noem (S.D.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Rep. Devin Nunes (Calif.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Rep. Pete Olson (Texas) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Gary Palmer (Ala.) – The RSC and Freedom Caucus member voted no on the Budget Committee, but backed the bill with changes after a meeting with Trump.

Rep. Erik Paulsen (Minn.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Rep. John Ratcliffe (Texas) — Ratcliffe said after a meeting with Trump on March 17 that he was satisfied the Republican plan moved "as far to the right as I think it can go" while retaining enough GOP support to pass, according to the Dallas News.

Rep. Tom Reed (N.Y.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Rep. Dave ReichertDavid ReichertThe Hill's Whip List: Where Republicans stand on ObamaCare repeal plan First ObamaCare votes put vulnerable GOPers on the spot A guide to the committees: House MORE (Wash.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Rep. Jim Renacci (Ohio) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Rep. Tom Rice (S.C.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Rep. Todd Rokita (Ind.) - Voted to advance the bill in the House Budget Committee.

Rep. Peter Roskam (Ill.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Rep. David SchweikertDavid SchweikertThe Hill's Whip List: Where Republicans stand on ObamaCare repeal plan IRS chief struggles with uncertain future under Trump A guide to the committees: House MORE (Ariz.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Rep. John Shimkus (Ill.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Adrian Smith (Neb.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Rep. Jason Smith (Mo.) – Voted to advance the bill on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Rep. Lloyd Smucker (Pa.) – Voted to advance the bill on the House Budget Committee.

Rep. Pat Tiberi (Ohio) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Rep. Fred Upton (Mich.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Tim Walberg (Mich.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Mark Walker (N.C.)  — The chairman of the conservative Republican Study Conference said he is a "positive yes." Walker endorsed the legislation after a meeting with President Trump, where they discussed changes to the bill.

Rep. Jackie Walorski (Ind.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Rep. Mimi Walters (Calif.) — Voted to advance the bill on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Bruce Westerman (Ark.) - Voted to advance the bill in the House Budget Committee.

Rep. Steve WomackSteve WomackAmash misses vote, ending perfect attendance streak The Hill's Whip List: Where Republicans stand on ObamaCare repeal plan Dems make another push for Trump's tax returns from House floor MORE (Ark.) - Voted to advance the bill in the House Budget Committee.

Rep. Rob WoodallRob WoodallThe Hill's Whip List: Where Republicans stand on ObamaCare repeal plan A guide to the committees: House Bill to overturn last Obama regulations heads to House floor MORE (Ga.) - Voted to advance the bill in the House Budget Committee.

 

 

SENATE REPUBLICANS

No (4)

Sen. Susan CollinsSusan CollinsThis week: House GOP faces make-or-break moment on ObamaCare Schiff: Trump wiretapping allegations 'patently false' GOP senator: Trump owes explanation for wiretap claims MORE (Maine) — “This is not a bill I could support in its current form,” Collins told the Portland Press Herald. “It really misses the mark."

Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) — Cruz told CBS's "Face the Nation" on March 19 that he couldn't vote for the current bill. "I cannot vote for any bill that keeps premiums rising," he said. 

Sen. Dean HellerDean HellerRed-state Dems in Supreme Court pressure cooker This week: House GOP faces make-or-break moment on ObamaCare Shutdown politics return to the Senate MORE (Nev.) — Heller said that he cannot support the House repeal and replace bill in its "current form," according to Bloomberg and NBC News.

Sen. Rand PaulRand PaulThis week: House GOP faces make-or-break moment on ObamaCare McConnell touts GOP healthcare plan ahead of Trump visit to Kentucky Republicans pitch healthcare plan ahead of key vote MORE (Ky.) — Paul is calling the plan “Obamacare lite” and says it will not pass. He introduced alternative legislation on March 9 that would just allow a clean repeal of ObamaCare.

 

Unclear/Uncertain (16)

Sen. Bill Cassidy (La.) — Cassidy told TPM the CBO score was “awful.” “So if there's truly 24 million people [losing their coverage], of course it's a concern,” he added.

Sen. Bob Corker (Tenn.) — Corker told reporters that the House bill is "a very good contribution and again I want to know a little more about it."

Sen. Tom Cotton (Ark.) — “The language, you may have seen it, is highly technical and complicated. It may only be 123 pages long, but you have to review it in the context of today's laws and today's regulations. So, it's hard to say right now where one stands on any particular provision, or especially the bill as a whole,” the Arkansas senator said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," on March 8.

Sen. Steve Daines (Mont.) — Daines said in a statement to The Missoulian after the CBO analysis: "We need to do better. ... I want to see costs and premiums go down to make health care more affordable for Montana families."

Sen. Jeff Flake (Ariz.) — "Negotiations are tough enough without commenting before I understand it all," Flake said, as reported by CNN on March 7. "We've got a small margin. You know the numbers. It's tough."

Sen. Cory Gardner (Colo.)  — Pledged to vote against rolling back the Medicaid expansion. He told the Denver Post on March 8 that he had concerns about the legislation.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) — "Overall, we should take the CBO report and see if we can make the bill better," Graham told MSNBC the day the budget office released its score.

Sen. James Lankford (Okla.) — Lankford told a local radio station that there's a "lot of frustration" with the House bill, adding: "Most folks in the Senate, and I would say the vast majority, are saying if we don't get some things right this should not move."

Sen. Mike Lee (Utah) — “This is not the ObamaCare repeal bill we’ve been waiting for. It is a missed opportunity and a step in the wrong direction,” Lee said in a statement March 7.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.)  — Pledged to vote against rolling back the Medicaid expansion.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) — Pledged to vote against rolling back the Medicaid expansion.

Sen. Rob Portman (Ohio) — Pledged to vote against rolling back the Medicaid expansion.

Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.) —  "It's got some things I've been supportive of in the past and it's got some things I've been concerned about,” Rubio told reporters on March 7.

Sen. John Thune (S.D.) — Thune told Roll Call on March 9 that the Senate might amend the House GOP bill. "I think there's got to be an opportunity for the Senate to be heard on this," he said.

Sen. Thom Tillis (N.C.) — “My Republican colleagues would be making a mistake if they become content with failing to produce the perfect at the expense of achieving good, practical solutions to reform our nation’s broken healthcare system,” Tillis said in a statement on March 7.

Sen. Pat Toomey (Pa.) — “I’m quite sure that we’re going to want to make some changes, which, I think, are still entirely possible. This is not the final product,” Toomey told a local CBS radio show on March 9.

 

This story was last updated on March 19 at 4:51 p.m.