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White House spokesman says Obamacare repeal has business support

A White House staffer said Thursday the GOP's replacement Obamacare bill was earning support from business groups and would eventually become law.

Folders containing amendments to the GOP's "Obamacare" replacement bill are spread on a conference ...

Folders containing amendments to the GOP's "Obamacare" replacement bill are spread on a conference table on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 9, 2017, as members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee worked through the night. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

PHOENIX — A White House staffer said Thursday the GOP’s replacement Obamacare bill was earning support from business groups and would eventually become law.

Assistant press secretary Ninio Fetalvo told KTAR’s Arizona’s Morning News on Thursday that “Unlike Obamacare, this bill is going through the legislative process, which I think contributed to (the Affordable Care Act’s) failure. This will work through the correct process.”

Congress passed the Affordable Care Act on March 21, 2010 without any Republican votes. It was signed into law by President Barack Obama two days later.

The replacement bill has become the focus of fractious interactions between Democrats and Republicans and even between members of the GOP. The bill passed its first hurdle early Thursday, clearing the House Ways and Means Committee by seven votes and then a second House panel.

“The Affordable Care Act was … unaffordable,” Fetalvo said, pointing out the ” triple-figure rise in premiums in Arizona.

The 116 percent jump in Arizona went into effect Jan. 1.

Some of the most conservative members of Congress object to the replacement legislation, calling it “Obamacare Lite.”

“We’ve had a lot of support from business groups,” Fetalvo said. “We’re going to continue to talk to folks.”

“We’re going to bring it back to the people, give them more options. That’s what President (Donald) Trump cares about … not D.C. political insiders making the choice for people back home.”

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) showed up for his weekly press briefing with his sleeves rolled up, and delivered a PowerPoint presentation about the GOP bill.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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