republicare/trumpcare/AHCA is dead, long live the ACA

House Republican leaders abruptly pulled a rewrite of the nation’s health-care system from consideration on Friday, a dramatic defeat for President Trump and House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) that leaves a major campaign promise unfilled and casts doubt on the Republican Party’s ability to govern.

In addition to leaving the Affordable Care Act in place, the news also raises questions about the GOP’s ability to advance other high-stakes agenda items, including tax reform and infrastructure spending. Ryan is still without a signature achievement as speaker — and the defeat undermines Trump’s image as a skilled dealmaker willing to strike compromises to push his agenda forward.

In an interview with The Washington Post, Trump deflected any responsibility for the setback and blamed Democrats instead.

“We couldn’t get one Democratic vote and we were a little bit shy, very little, but it was still a little bit shy so we pulled it,” he said.

“I don’t blame Paul,” Trump said, referring to Ryan.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is offering little hope that a failed Republican health-care bill can be revived anytime soon.

The Kentucky Republican says in a statement that "Obamacare is failing the American people" and says he appreciates the efforts of House Speaker Paul Ryan and President Donald Trump to keep a Republican promise to try to repeal and replace the health care law.

McConnell says he shares their "disappointment that this effort came up short."

GOP leaders pulled their repeal bill off the House floor Friday after it became clear the measure would fail badly. It was a stunning defeat for the new president after he demanded a Friday vote on the legislation.

White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon told a group of House conservatives they had no choice but to back the GOP's ObamaCare repeal bill days before the bill was pulled, according to a new report.

Bannon confronted members of the House Freedom Caucus earlier this week during the White House's push for the American Health Care Act, Axios's Mike Allen reported Saturday in his newsletter.

"Guys, look. This is not a discussion. This is not a debate. You have no choice but to vote for this bill,” Bannon reportedly said.