White House officials on Sunday said they’re open to removing from the Senate tax reform package a provision to scrap the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate if it becomes an “impediment” to passing a broader tax bill.
“We absolutely want to do it. If we can repeal part of Obamacare as part of a tax bill and have a tax bill that’s still a good tax bill that can pass, that’s great. If it becomes an impediment to getting the best tax bill we can, then we’re OK with taking it out,” White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday.
The House last week passed its own tax overall package. A tax reform plan that cleared the Senate Finance Committee contains the repeal of the individual mandate, a core piece of Obamacare that requires all Americans to buy health insurance or pay a fine.
Some Republicans object to mixing tax reform and a partial Obamacare repeal. Sen. Susan Collins, Maine Republican, said Sunday that removing the individual mandate without broader health care reform could cause a premium spike for many Americans.
“If you do pull this piece of the Affordable Care Act out for some middle class families, the increased premium is going to cancel out the tax cut they’re going to get,” Ms. Collins told CNN.
Administration officials say their goal is to keep the provision in the tax bill, but said it’s ultimately up to lawmakers, who could use it as a bargaining chip to get skeptical Republicans such as Ms. Collins on board.
“I think right now our objective is to keep it in,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told “Fox News Sunday.”
“But we’re going to work with the Senate on this,” he said.
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
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