President Trump and the Republican controlled Congress may be facing their first major political setback. The American Health Care Act crafted to replace Obamacare doesn’t appear to have the votes to pass. Progressives don’t like it. Republicans are resistant. Only one member of New Jersey’s entire congressional delegation, Republican Rep. Tom MacArthur, has announced he’d vote for the Republican’s health care plan. Powerful chair of the House Appropriations Committee Rodney Freulinghuysen says he’s as yet undecided. And Republican Congressman Leonard Lance is one of New Jersey’s four remaining republicans who’d vote no. NJTV News Correspondent Michael Hill spoke with him about the issue.
Hill: Congressman Lance, thank you very much for joining us. Your misgivings about this legislation are well know. Would you describe for us, please, what kind of pressure you’re getting to change your vote on this legislation?
Lance: My leadership of course is interested in seeing the legislation pass, but I don’t think there has been undo pressure. I had the honor of going to the White House and meeting with President Trump, along with other members of Congress, about 15 of us, we were in the Oval Office several days ago. It was a fine discussion and I indicated to the president where I stood on the matter and I think he was genuinely interested in listening to the views of the members of the House of Representatives.
Hill: Congressman, where do you stand on this? We know you have had some misgivings, as I said, and you don’t like this legislation. What is it about this legislation you don’t like?
Lance: I don’t think the legislation fundamentally will lead to a situation where the American people will be able to have complete and affordable access to health care policies. And I would challenge our Democratic colleges, here on Capitol Hill, to work with us because the exchanges are in great difficulty. In some states there is only one private insurer. In one-third of the counties in this country there is only one insurer and I think that’s unacceptable and I hope the Democrats work with us on this important issue.
Hill: How likely is it that the House will get its act together and come up with something that’s acceptable to enough of those in the House to come up with a majority to pass this legislation?
Lance: I’m not on the whip team, as it’s called here in Washington, so I’ve not been counting heads and so I don’t really know the answer to that question. I’ve indicated to our leadership that I am not supportive and will be voting no on the bill, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to make sure that we reform the system. I think Obamacare has significant flaws. I think it’s the responsibility of all of us, including the Democratic colleagues, to come to the table to work to make sure that we can improve the health care system in this country.
Hill: The Democrats, or rather the opponents, who’ve been outside and demonstrating against this legislation and trying to get your attention — what impact have they had on you, if any?
Lance: I was pleased to be able to have two town hall meetings. The last time I was in New Jersey for a week, this was over the Presidents’ Day week, I had a town hall meeting where there were 1,400 people and I had another town hall meeting, two days later, where there were 900 people. I certainly welcomed the interaction with constituents and I will continue to make sure that that is the case. I always vote my conscience and will continue to do so. However, it seems to me that it’s important for all of us in Congress to reach out to constituents as constituents reach out to us.
Hill: What does it say, going forward, that as long as there have been opponents of Obamacare, as some of them have come to call it, that at this stage here — we are two months into this new administration — both Houses in Congress are Republican and still the Republicans have not been able to come up with a plan that’s acceptable to enough Republicans to get this legislation passed? What does that say to the nation?
Lance: I think that we are united in our belief that we should have the ability to purchase policy across state lines. We’ve worked on that issue this week in the House of Representatives that goes to the Senate of the United States, that will require Democratic support in the Senate, because it’s susceptible to a filibuster and to complete debate in the Senate requires 60 votes — that is known as closure — and I would urge our Democratic colleagues, not in the House, but in the Senate to pass that legislation, the purchase of policy across state lines. I think that is an excellent idea and will lead to a better health care system in this country — lower premiums, letting people band together to purchase policy and I seek the support of Democratic colleagues, not only here in the House, but across the Capitol in the Senate, pass that legislation and I hope that we can work in a bipartisan capacity on that and other issues.
Hill: Congressman Leonard Lance, joining us from Washington. Congressman, thank you.
Lance: Thank you very much.