It was a victory for the GOP as House Republicans voted to put the party one step closer to their goal of repealing and replacing Obamacare Thursday.
California Republicans were among some of the final holdouts. In the end, every single one would vote for the bill.
What caused them to fall in line?
That's just one of the topics tackled today on today's State of Affairs.
Guests:
- Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, professor of public policy at USC
- Carla Marinucci, senior editor for Politico's California Playbook
Highlights
A Martinez: Earlier this week, there were some Republican holdouts. Rep. Jeff Denham of Turlock said he was against the bill. Meanwhile, Republicans like Ed Royce and Steve Knight were undecided. What won them over?
Carla: How do you say arm-twisting in just about every way? I think it's the tremendous pressure for Donald Trump to have some kind of headline at his 100-day mark. He badly needed some legislative victory, and Kevin McCarthy was there to do that arm-twisting.
Look, critics would argue that it's nothing about the bill itself that would have won them over because there's no Congressional Budget Office analysis. We don't really know the numbers. Many of those in the House admitted that they didn't even read it.
In California right now, some of the health access numbers are devastating and will come back on them.
Sherry: It's astonishing to me, quite frankly, because if only two California Republicans had moved to "no," that bill would not have made it out of the House of Representatives. I think four of the Republicans are in districts that not only voted for Hillary Clinton but are among those who would be most hurt by the changes in the ACA.
Press the blue play button above to hear about this week in California politics.
Also featured:
- The California Senate approves a bill that would that would let the state cut in line next presidential primary.
- Auntie Maxine? A look at millennials and their newly minted fascination with California Congresswoman Maxine Waters.
