Paul Ryan just gave a PowerPoint presentation with rolled up sleeves amid backlash over the GOP's Obamacare replacement

Advertisement

Paul Ryan

CNN

Paul Ryan pulls out the PowerPoint.

Paul Ryan on Thursday went to new lengths to defend the House Republican Obamacare replacement bill.

Advertisement

Ryan rolled out a Panasonic television at the start of his weekly press conference and delivered a PowerPoint presentation on the deficiencies of the Affordable Care Act to explain the process the GOP is using to overhaul the healthcare system.

The new tactic comes amid criticism of the new bill - named the American Health Care Act - by a variety of groups.

Conservative Republicans argue that the legislation would not go far enough in repealing the Affordable Care Act, the law also known as Obamacare. Moderate Republicans are worried the law's provisions on Medicaid funding will leave people in states that expanded the program without coverage. Democrats are concerned that the law will kick millions of people off their coverage.

Conservative think tanks have also criticized the law as "Obamacare lite." Medical groups like the American Medical Association have also opposed the law and the top interest group of the health insurance industry offered changes it would like to see in the law.

Advertisement

Ryan has been on a media blitz to defend the law after these groups raised concerns, telling Fox News' Tucker Carlson on Wednesday night that the process is not in "chaos."

President Donald Trump also responded to unflattering reports surrounding the legislation's development Thursday.

"Despite what you hear in the press, healthcare is coming along great. We are talking to many groups and it will end in a beautiful picture!" he tweeted.

While Ryan's presentation stuck mostly to Republican talking points that Ryan has covered before, the addition of the visuals brought a new element to what is becoming a wild first week of developments for the legislation.