Jordan talks Syria, health care during Lima visit

April 08--LIMA -- U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana, talked about Syria and health care reform during an impromptu visit to the Allen County Republican Party luncheon Friday at the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Jordan voiced support for President Donald Trump's authorization of a Thursday missile strike on a Syrian air base. It was in retaliation for chemical attacks against Syrian civilians. Still, Jordan emphasized that any future action in Syria involving U.S. troops would have to include approval from Congress.

"Something this evil, something this bad, warrants a response, so I support what the president ordered and what was done," he said. "However, if it's going to be something more than air strikes, I think the Constitution is clear that you have to have a debate in Congress. That's how it works. If it's troops or something greater than what took place, you have to follow the Constitution."

Jordan also expressed cautious optimism about a replacement bill for the Affordable Care Act. The Freedom Caucus, of which Jordan is a member, worked to defeat a replacement bill endorsed by both Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan.

"The White House, early this week, put a proposal on the table that made some sense to many of us," he said. "We want to see it in writing, but if it's as proposed and the text is as outlined, it basically gives states the ability to get a waiver from those regulations in Obamacare that drive up the cost of insurance and premium costs for families.

"Then I think you would see conservatives in the House be supportive of it, but we want to see the text and we want to see it happen the way it was described to us by the vice president."

Jordan also dismissed a tweet from Trump about a rift between the right-wing Freedom Caucus and the Republican establishment.

"The Freedom Caucus will hurt the entire Republican agenda if they don't get on the team, & fast," Trump tweeted. "We must fight them, & Dems, in 2018!"

Jordan said the focus needs to continue to remain on repealing Obamacare and keeping what he said was a promise to the voters.

"Tweets and statements and blame don't change facts, and we're focused on the facts and on doing what we said," he said. "I'm hoping it will be sooner rather than later."

Reach Craig Kelly at 567-242-0390 or on Twitter @Lima_CKelly.

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