Mediaboss Marketing

House Republican leaders are working feverishly to find a few members to support a bill to roll back the Affordable Care Act, and they could use some help from some in Californias GOP delegation who haven't taken a position on it.

News outlets that have polled the entire GOP caucus say they've found 19 to 22 Republicans who will vote against it. Thats focused attention on roughly two dozen undecided members. Eight of them are Californians.

Democrats have lined up pretty firmly against the bill, meaning the GOP can only lose up to 22 members.

Republican leaders say they are getting close to collecting enough support, but are loath to put the bill up for a vote until they know they have the votes to pass it.

A vote scheduled on an earlier version of the bill in March was canceled at the last minute. Changes in the new version made to placate more conservative Republicans, like allowing states to scrap protections for people with preexisting conditions, have driven away moderate GOP members.

If Republicans dont have a healthcare vote this week, itll probably get even more difficult to pass an overhaul bill because congressional rules mean theyll have extra hurdles to overcome.

When we checked in last week, more than two-thirds of the 14 California members hadn't decided how to vote on the bill. Here is where the Republican members stand now:

The eight members who are still undecided include four who represent districts that Hillary Clinton won in November, and are being targeted by Democrats in 2018.

Rep. David Valadao (Hanford), who hails from one of those districts, was undecided on the first bill, and said the changes havent helped his original concerns. Hes hearing a lot of worries from people back home.

Its the Medicaid. Medicaid is the issue, Valadao said Tuesday.

The bill would gradually end federal funding for millions of people who qualified for Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Valadao represents one of the California districts whose residents benefited the most from the expansion.

Rep. Steve Knight (Palmdale) said hes worried people with preexisting conditions will have a hard time finding coverage under the new bill.

Were still talking about preexisting conditions; were still talking about several of the issues that have us concerned with the healthcare bill, Knight said, adding that hes hearing from constituents who support the bill as well as those who oppose it. We're trying to listen to everyone, but in the end were also trying to see whats going to be the better plan.

Reps. Ken Calvert (Corona) and Dana Rohrabacher (Costa Mesa) both supported the earlier version of the bill, but havent signed on to the changes.

Reps. Ed Royce (Fullerton), Paul Cook (Yucca Valley) and Doug LaMalfa (Richvale), who were undecided on the previous version, are also still weighing this one.

It seems like a moving target, so Im still considering what all the latest pieces are here, LaMalfa said. I'm just being deliberate about it. Im not going to put my name out on it yes or no because why not wait until all the informations in at the final moment?

Some, like Rep. Darrell Issa, were less forthcoming.

The Vista Republicans staff told the Los Angeles Times hes still undecided.

Just one Republican in the delegation, Rep. Jeff Denham (Turlock), has said he plans to oppose the bill. He hasnt given a reason.

Denham is in one of the districts that backed Clinton in 2016, and had said he also was undecided on the original version of the bill.

Five Republican members of the California delegation support the bill.

Among those trying to sway other GOP members is House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Bakersfield), who told colleagues in a closed-door meeting Tuesday morning that it is time to vote on the bill, several news outlets reported. He said a vote could happen before the end of the week, when the House leaves for another recess.

Other supporters are Reps. Tom McClintock (Elk Grove), Mimi Walters (Irvine), Duncan Hunter (Alpine) and Devin Nunes (Tulare). They all approved of the original bill.

Walters, whose staff said she would have supported the original bill, is the only one in a district being targeted by Democrats to come out in favor of this version of the bill.

HERES WHERE THE CALIFORNIA REPUBLICANS STAND

Go here to read the rest:
California's House Republicans are crucial to this week's healthcare push. Here's where they stand - Los Angeles Times