Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) held a press conference to announce that The American Health Care Act has been pulled.
To watch Ryan’s full remarks, hit play on the video above.
Ryan said he met with President Donald Trump and suggested that they pull the bill.
In his 10-minute press conference, the speaker called having to pull the bill and failing to repeal the Affordable Care Act a “disappointment.” He added that “we came really close today, but we came up short.”
A House vote on the legislation was set for Thursday and then Friday afternoon, but the bill failed to get the support it needed to pass.
Ryan expressed his disappointment, saying “I won’t sugarcoat this, this is a disappointing day for us.” He referred to Obamacare as the “law of the land.”
Trump reportedly said in a conversation with Washington Post reporter Robert Costa that he’s not faulting Ryan for the lack of support with the bill.
The president also called New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman, who he told that it’s the Democrats’ fault the bill didn’t pass. Trump appeared to hint that he will not continue to pursue health care reform.
TRUMP tells me in interview this is now the Democrats’ fault, and that he anticipates that when Obama “explodes” they will be ready to deal
On Tuesday, Trump threatened GOP lawmakers that their jobs would be on the line during the next election cycle if they didn’t back the health care bill that would repeal former President Barack Obama‘s Affordable Care Act.
As it stood, the bill offered a three-phase plan to get rid of Obamacare. That included tax provisions like individual and employee mandates and reforming the Medicaid program.
It would have allowed for states to continue enrolling in the Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion until 2020 and given out tax credits for those earning less than $75,000 annually. In addition, it would require companies to cover pre-existing conditions.
Once it was introduced, it lacked support across the aisle and also with House Republicans.
Opponents of the bill said that the legislation would have reduced coverage while increasing deductibles.