Key 'Trumpcare' architect Tom MacArthur resigns from centrist caucus
Cliff Owen/AP
MacArthur, who represents New Jersey in the House of Representatives, engineered the amendment that allowed the Republican-backed Obamacare replacement - the American Health Care Act - to pass.
According to Politico, MacArthur's moves to pass the bill by negotiating with far-right Republicans caused him to fall out with some of his centrist colleagues.
"I'm not looking to be divisive within the group and I'm not looking to change who I am," MacArthur told Politico. "I'm going to continue to govern the way I believe the American people need us to govern. That means we engage with the Freedom Caucus. We engage with everybody."
After the new health bill passed, MacArthur also faced outrage from his mostly-Democratic district. People crowded in for a town hall and criticized MacArthur for pushing a bill that could cause thousands of people to see their insurance rates soar due to preexisting conditions. In what has since become known as the MacArthur Amendment, Obamacare's restrictions on increasing insurance costs based on previous illnesses might no longer apply.
While many moderate Republicans spoke out against the American Health Care Act, MacArthur insisted that only a small percentage of Americans lose coverage under the new bill.
"This unwillingness to engage with members of our own party is unacceptable to me," he said. A full report on the number of people who could lose health care coverage will be released just one day after MacArthur's resignation.
Still, the former insurance broker told Politico that he intends to remain active in the caucus. After stepping down from the leadership role, he hopes to dedicate more time to negotiating with other Republicans.
You can read MacArthur's full resignation statement here »
- Colon cancer rates are rising in young people. If you have two symptoms you should get a colonoscopy, a GI oncologist says.
- I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin.
- An Ambani disruption in OTT: At just ₹1 per day, you can now enjoy ad-free content on JioCinema
- IMD predicts severe heatwave conditions over East, South Peninsular India for next five days
- COVID lockdown-related school disruptions will continue to worsen students’ exam results into the 2030s: study
- India legend Yuvraj Singh named ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 ambassador
- Maruti Suzuki Q4 net profit rises 47.8% to ₹3,877.8 crore
- 10 Incredible destinations for backpackers in India
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market