U.S. House to vote Thursday on Obamacare repeal bill; Graves to support, says just one step toward overall repeal

March 22--A spokesman for U.S. Rep. Tom Graves, R-Ranger, indicated Wednesday Graves will vote for a bill that supporters say would help repeal and replace Obamacare.

"Rep. Graves strongly supports President Trump's three-phase health care plan, including the American Health Care Act," said spokesman Garret Hawkins.

Graves represents Georgia's 14th Congressional District, which includes Whitfield and Murray counties.

The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the AHCA on Thursday.

In a Twitter post on March 15, Graves said the AHCA will lower premiums by 10 percent, reduce the federal deficit by $337 billion and cut taxes by $880 billion.

In a tweet on March 14, he said Americans who don't have health insurance will have affordable choices and "won't be forced to buy an expensive, one-size-fits-all" policy.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, President Trump and other Republican leaders back the bill, which they say is part of a three-step process to repeal and replace Obamacare. But a number of conservative lawmakers and free market-oriented organizations oppose the bill, saying it doesn't go far enough. With few, if any, Democrats expected to vote for the bill, its success will depend on Republican members of the House.

The bill is complex and the changes it would make to Obamacare often seem subtle. For instance, Obamacare mandates that individuals who don't have health insurance through work or through Medicare or Medicaid buy insurance or face financial penalties. The AHCA drops that requirement but says if someone opts not to buy insurance but later buys it they will face a financial penalty then.

The AHCA is being voted on as a budget reconciliation measure. That means if it passes the House it can pass the Senate with just a simple majority. But under budget reconciliation, it can only deal with taxes and spending. Bills to repeal and replace other parts of Obamacare, which could require a supermajority in the Senate, will be voted on later.

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