Republicans who do not support their party's healthcare bill will be held accountable if the legislation fails, The Wall Street Journal wrote in an opinion piece.
Four GOP senators have vowed not to vote for the bill in its current form. Those lawmakers could be in line for some political payback if they refuse to support the bill and it eventually falls flat.
"What the holdouts should understand is that this is a defining political moment," the Journal wrote. "They may never have a better chance to improve U.S. healthcare and reform government, and the window is closing.
"Repairing the failing individual insurance market, putting Medicaid on budget for the first time in the entitlement's history, and passing an enormous pro-growth tax cut are historic opportunities. If reluctant GOP Senators think they won't be held accountable for a defeat, they should think again."
As of Monday, Republican Sens. Susan Collins, Rand Paul, Ron Johnson, and Dean Heller said they would not vote for the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), the Senate GOP's version of the House's American Health Care Act. The bill was made public last week and a vote on it could happen Thursday.
The Journal argued that "no bill will ever be perfect," the BCRA included. But its benefits outweigh the negatives, including overhauling the Medicaid system.
Another benefit the Journal sees in the piece of legislation are fewer regulations.
"On policy substance, the Senate bill gives governors the regulatory flexibility to upgrade their insurance markets," the Journal wrote. "Even if the bill isn't everything conservatives imagine, no one can credibly claim it isn't deregulatory progress."
The BCRA is designed to repeal and replace Obamacare, which was signed into law seven years ago.
The Congressional Budget Office released its assessment of the bill Monday and claimed as many as 22 million people would lose health insurance coverage if the bill is passed.
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