Charlie Dent remains on fence over Obamacare repeal bill as vote nears

March 22--As President Donald Trump rallied support Tuesday for the House Republican plan to replace Obamacare, one of his biggest allies in the House announced his opposition to the bill, and the Lehigh Valley congressman who has been critical of the president remained on the fence.

After a meeting between Trump and a dozen members of the centrist Tuesday Group caucus, U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent said he still holds "serious reservations" about the bill.

"I had reservations going in, and I still have reservations now," said Dent, the Tuesday Group chairman who represents Lehigh County and part of Northampton County. Dent spoke with a group of reporters who peppered him with questions as he walked from the House floor back to his office.

He described the meeting with Trump and several top administration staffers as a "soft sell" and a "constructive" discussion. But it was unclear whether minds were changed, Dent said.

Time is running short for Dent and others who remain undecided: The House is expected to vote Thursday on the Obamacare replacement bill.

Among those now staking out a clear position is U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, whose 11th Congressional District includes part of Carbon County.

Barletta, who was among Trump's earliest supporters in Congress, said late Monday he remains committed to repealing and replacing Obamacare. But he said he doesn't believe the bill has "sufficient safeguards" to verify that those applying for health insurance tax credits are lawfully in the country.

Barletta cited a Senate Judiciary Committee report that found that almost 500,000 applicants for $750 million in Obamacare insurance subsidies had the aid revoked because they did not verify they were lawful U.S. residents. Officials who oversee the subsidies said the lack of documentation, such as a Social Security number, doesn't necessarily mean someone is in the country illegally.

"I cannot vote for a replacement plan that fails to address this problem," Barletta said, adding that he would have difficulty explaining to his constituents "why they should be helping to pay for the health expenses of someone who broke the law to get here and has no right to those federal dollars."

Changes unveiled late Monday did not sway either Pennsylvania legislator. Dent said he's still reviewing the additions and is awaiting an updated fiscal analysis.

The amendments were intended to assuage concerns from both ideological ends of the House Republican caucus. For conservatives, the taxes created in Obamacare would expire sooner, and states would be allowed impose a work requirement on some Medicaid recipients. For moderates like Dent, another provision would allow the Senate to beef up tax credits for older Americans who otherwise could see major increases in premiums under the GOP plan.

Dent had repeatedly expressed concerns about the size of the tax credits to offset insurance premiums, saying those in the original measure were too small. Asked about Monday's changes, he responded that he would prefer the tax credits are tweaked before the bill clears the House.

He said he also remains concerned about the changes to Medicaid: The latest approach would give states the option of receiving their federal funding for the program as a block grant instead of money based on the costs for each recipient.

Dent has concerns about how much each state would receive and about giving governors and state Legislatures flexibility on spending that money. Four Republican governors, including Ohio Gov. John Kasich, have written to Congress about those concerns, and Dent said he shared their letter with Trump during the meeting.

Another concern Dent raised in Tuesday's meeting: He wants to separate any changes targeting Planned Parenthood's federal funding from the Obamacare repeal bill. House leaders have not appeared willing to budge, but several senators have raised that concern as well.

So with the vote expected Thursday, when will Dent decide?

"We'll see," Dent said. "I've always been a person who has been part of the governing wing of the party. I try to always find a way to get to yes. But at same time, when I have concerns about an issue, I'm not afraid to push the red button, too."

As Dent considers his vote, outside pressures are mounting on reluctant lawmakers.

The fiscally conservative Club for Growth is opposing the bill, saying it would fail to increase insurance competition and drive down costs.

As part of its advocacy against the measure, the group has launched at least $500,000 in television and digital ads urging a "no" vote in 10 House districts, including the areas represented by Dent and Bucks County Republican Brian Fitzpatrick, who has said he intends to oppose the bill.

In his Tuesday morning meeting with House Republicans, Trump issued a warning: Oppose the bill and risk losing your seat. At one point, the president singled out the leader of the conservative Freedom Caucus, who has said he's a "no" vote.

Dent shrugged off the president's comment, saying he "wasn't alarmed" by it.

Dent's "weighing a whole bunch of stuff, but the one thing you can be certain: He's going to disappoint some group that he has to work with in the future," said Chris Borick, a political scientist at Allentown's Muhlenberg College.

The next step for the bill is a House Rules Committee meeting on Wednesday -- and more vote-wrangling by GOP leaders.

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Where they stand

What local U.S. House Republicans have said regarding their votes on the Obamacare repeal bill:

Charlie Dent, 15th District: Undecided; has "serious reservations"

Brian Fitzpatrick, 8th District: Voting no; concerned about potential opioid treatment cuts

Lou Barletta, 11th District: Voting no; concerned about potential tax credits for undocumented immigrants

Ryan Costello, 6th District: Undecided; reviewing changes and fiscal analysis

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