Thompson ‘confident’ GOP senators will produce a health care bill despite delay

After the announcement Tuesday that Senate Republican leaders postponed a vote on legislation aimed at overhauling the Affordable Care Act, U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Howard Township, said he remains confident that the Senate will produce a strong bill.

The announcement from the Senate comes after reports that Republican support for the bill is eroding due to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office report that estimates 22 more million people will be uninsured by 2026.

“That part of The CBO report is actually a victory over the ACA because today there are over 24 million Americans that are paying the fine or are exempt and go without insurance,” Thompson said. “Considering that, what it looks like the Senate is producing is already an improvement over the current status of what we have today.”

The Senate GOP leaders were attempting to draft and vote on a bill ahead of the July 4 recess, but Thompson said while the delay is a setback, it will lead to a better bill.

“The Senate is doing their due diligence to come up with the best possible piece of legislation that they can rally behind,” Thompson said. “I have no criticism for the Senate and while it doesn’t look like they’re going to get it done this week, I want them to take their time to get it right.”

If a bill is passed after the Senate reconvenes on July 10, the legislation will head back to the House.

“Whatever they do will have to be conferenced in the House and the speaker has been very good about putting me on leadership teams and conference committees for major bills,” Thompson said. “I appreciate that confidence and I don’t know if I’ll wind up on this leadership team or not, but I would like to have the opportunity.”

This story was originally published June 27, 2017 at 10:34 PM with the headline "Thompson ‘confident’ GOP senators will produce a health care bill despite delay."