JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – President Donald Trump and GOP leaders yanked their bill to repeal "Obamacare" off the House floor Friday when it became clear it would fail badly -- after seven years of campaigning to replace the health care law.
Democrats said Americans can "breathe a sigh of relief." Trump said President Barack Obama's law was imploding "and soon will explode."
Thwarted by two factions of fellow Republicans, from the center and far right, House Speaker Paul Ryan said Obama's health care law, the GOP's No. 1 target in the new Trump administration, will remain in place "for the foreseeable future."
It was a stunning defeat for the new president after he had demanded House Republicans delay no longer and vote on the legislation Friday, pass or fail.
Instead Trump, who campaigned as a master deal-maker and claimed that he alone could fix the nation's health care system, saw his ultimatum rejected by Republican lawmakers who made clear they answer to their own voters, not to the president.
Local small business owner weighs in
A small business owner in Jacksonville spoke with News4Jax after the proposed health care bill was pulled Friday.
Small businesses have been a focus of the current health care law and the proposed plan. News4Jax has heard from some business owners why they like the Affordable Care Act and why it works for them.
In this case, Rose Conry, CEO of StaffTime, said it made more sense to wait and see, which is what her company is still doing following the decision to pull the GOP bill from a vote on the House floor.
"It's probably a wise thing that he took a step back and said 'let's re-evaluate a little bit before we actually roll something out,' because I know what he really wants to do is to make sure the American people are covered and taken care of," Conry said.
StaffTime is an HR consulting company and a staffing firm. Rose and her business partner, Kelly Moore, decided they would provide health coverage for all their employees -- even though it began to cost more for them, with a 30 percent increase since the Affordable Care Act went into effect.
They're now looking for compromise to make sense for everyone, and Conry said she's hopeful.
"I think what's critical here, Kent, is that both sides work together because we have to come to a compromise," Conry said. "This can't be one side or the other -- has to be a good compromise. And everybody has to ignore what they really want to do and focus on the American people and focus on the people that's going to affect."
Reaction from lawmakers representing Northeast Florida
News4Jax heard from lawmakers representing northeast Florida. Three of four said they were ready to vote no Friday, but didn't get the chance.
Republican U.S. Rep. John Rutherford said he remains committed to repealing and replacing.
"Maintaining a status quo is not an option. There is a widespread consensus that President Obama’s signature health care law is broken and unsustainable. I remain committed to repealing and replacing Obamacare to improve and protect Americans’ access to quality, affordable health coverage," Rutherford said in a statement.
Republican U.S. Reps. Ron DeSantis and Ted Yoho told News4Jax that they would oppose the plan, and wait for a better bill.
DeSantis issued the following statement:
"The House health care bill is a flawed piece of legislation produced by a hasty process and it shows: by leaving the core architecture of ObamaCare in place, it does very little to address the core problems of rising health insurance premiums and lack of consumer choice that have harmed so many Americans. In fact, it very well may have caused insurance premiums to increase 15-20% over and above the anticipated ObamaCare increases over the next several years, which is unacceptable. There was no reason to rush this bill through the House to begin with. Congress should take its time and pass a good bill that actually repeals ObamaCare, puts a downward pressure on insurance premiums and expands competition in the marketplace. Failure is not an option."
Yoho's office said he is still a no vote, and he supports the postponement "until a better bill is drafted."
U.S. Rep. Al Lawson is the only Democrat among the northeast Florida delegation in the House. He told News4Jax Friday night he hopes the no vote is an opportunity for both sides to work together and create a great health care bill.
"Today is a victory for the American people who have made their voices heard loud and clear - they do not want repeal and replace. What we must do now is come together to work to improve the Affordable Care Act. It took us centuries to get to where we are now with our health care, and we’ve already helped 20 million people get the health care they need. Let’s improve the ACA to see how we can help even more people get the health care they need and deserve," Lawson said in a statement.