Trump promotes Obamacare reform amid questions over Michael Flynn
In his latest address, President Trump tried to rally support for the House GOP plan to repeal and replace Obamacare.
The bill cleared two congressional committees this week, but the battle has just begun with many conservative Republicans wanting tougher, more sweeping changes in insurance requirements and Medicaid.
The president used the bully pulpit this week to promote what is the first major piece of legislation of his administration - reforming Obamacare. This comes while his administation is still trying to field lingering questions about links between Mr. Trump’s associates and foreign entities, CBS News correspondent Errol Barnett reports.
“I want every American to know that action on Obamacare is an urgent necessity,” Mr. Trump said in his weekly address.
The president pressed Congress to accept his new health care plan repealing and replacing Obamacare.
“We have some great results, we have tremendous spirit, and I think it’s something that’s just going to happen very shortly,” Mr. Trump said while meeting with key Republican House committee members at the White House Friday.
The meeting capped a week of full-court press from the administration and GOP leadership.
“I think we can all agree that Obamacare has failed,” Vice President Mike Pence said.
Pence, Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price and House Speaker Paul Ryan all made public pitches for the plan in an effort to win over reluctant Republicans.
“This is the closest we will ever get to repealing and replacing Obamacare,” Ryan said.
Meanwhile, Democrats tried to shift the focus to questions surrounding investigations into the Trump campaign and Russia. FBI Director James Comey briefed the so-called “Gang of Eight” of congressional leaders and intelligence committee chairs on Mr. Trump’s claim that President Obama wiretapped his phones during the campaign.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said she wants Comey to share what he knows with the public.
“He should set the record straight,” Pelosi said. “Yes, I do think he should say that. Publicly.”
On Friday, the White House said Mr. Trump did not know until this week that former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn had acted as a foreign agent representing Turkey. White House press secretary Sean Spicer tried to downplay the matter, saying the government does not advise employees on personal matters.
“I think we trust people to fill out the appropriate forms that they need to,” Spicer said.
The Flynn episode and still-unsubstantiated claim that Mr. Obama bugged Trump Tower have damaged the president’s credibility.
This weekend, he is laying low while Pence will rally in Kentucky to boost support for the president’s health care plan.