Carl Weiser

cweiser@enquirer.com

The U.S. House Thursday narrowly passed the Republican-backed health care bill.

House Republicans made good on their years-long promise Thursday to pass a bill that would repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, winning narrow passage of controversial legislation to unravel many of the law’s popular consumer protections, do away with the individual mandate, and overhaul the insurance market.

Here's how Greater Cincinnati's delegation voted, what they heard from constituents, and whether they're planning town halls next week during their recess.

Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Troy.

Voted yes. “It accomplishes far less than I was hoping for but I think it’s going to be a good improvement over Obamacare. I think the reality is the work is not finished. This is not the kind of reforms of the broader market than everyone was looking at. It’s reforms to the individual market.”

How calls were running: Spokesman Alexei Woltornist says the office doesn't have an "official" count, but "our staff has been working nonstop answering constituent calls, letters and emails."

Town halls: None scheduled. Davidson held town halls during the last recess and "more town hall meetings are in the works."

Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Columbia Tusculum

Voted yes. "Thoughtful negotiations have produced a stronger, better bill to begin the extremely challenging process of unwinding Obamacare and addressing the healthcare needs of all Americans. Many voices have been heard and important adjustments made over the past few weeks. As the bill stands now, I support it as a significant step towards a more market-oriented system that will provide patients with more options and make health insurance more affordable for all Americans. As a doctor, I believe it would be malpractice to allow Obamacare to continue to crumble. It’s time to get the ball rolling and send this bill to Senate.”

How calls were running: "The phone lines in both our district and our D.C. offices have been kept incredibly busy over the past few days with calls from folks opposing any efforts to dismantle Obamacare," spokeswoman Haily Sadler said. "But the recent flurry of calls doesn’t even begin to compare to the volume of communication we’ve received over the past three years from constituents concerned about what the Affordable Care Act is doing to their healthcare and demanding change."

Town halls: None scheduled

Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Westwood.

Voted yes. "The American people deserve a whole lot better than what they’re currently getting under Obamacare. Premiums have been skyrocketing, deductibles are so high that many people who technically have health care coverage under Obamacare, can’t afford to use it, and insurance companies have been dropping out of the health care exchanges left and right. Quite simply, Obamacare is close to a death spiral, if it’s not already in one. The legislation the House passed today is the first step to getting our health care system back on the right path."

How calls were running: "For the last few months, we have been hearing from both sides of this issue, although there is no doubt that those opposed to the legislation have been more vocal," spokesman Brian Griffith said. "Today, we are receiving so many calls from outside the district and even from outside the state, that there is no way to accurately assess how they are running."

Town halls: None scheduled.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Garrison (represents Northern Kentucky.)

Voted no: "As recently as a year ago, Republicans argued that mandates were unconstitutional, bailouts were immoral, and subsidies would bankrupt our country. Today, however, the House voted for a healthcare bill that makes these objectionable measures permanent. The former Democrat Speaker of the House was rightfully derided for imploring Members to vote for a healthcare bill to “find out what was in it.” Yet today, we voted on a healthcare bill for which the text was available only a few hours before the vote. In fact, the Congressional Budget Office had no time to even provide Congress with a preliminary estimate of the full cost of this bill."

How calls were running: "Although we do not have finalized numbers on what our calls were running, anecdotally it is 20:1 against the AHCA," said spokeswoman Jennifer Krantz.

Town halls: None scheduled.