President Donald Trump's position on the individual mandate represents a bit of a reversal from the White House. | Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images Trump tries to tie Obamacare repeal to tax cuts

President Donald Trump urged Congress on Wednesday to immediately consider repealing Obamacare’s individual mandate to free up funds for tax cuts.

“Wouldn't it be great to Repeal the very unfair and unpopular Individual Mandate in ObamaCare and use those savings for further Tax Cuts for the Middle Class,” the president tweeted Wednesday, the first day of the health care law’s open enrollment period for 2018 coverage.


“The House and Senate should consider ASAP as the process of final approval moves along,” Trump added. “Push Biggest Tax Cuts EVER.”

The president’s position represents a bit of a reversal from the White House. Asked about the individual mandate at Tuesday’s press briefing, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters, “I don’t believe it has to be part of tax reform, but the child care tax credit is something he’d certainly like to see.”

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) told POLITICO that the repeal of the individual mandate should be independent of a tax reform bill.

“I don’t blame the president for wanting to get his policies through, but I think there’s a way to do it and a way not to do it,” he said Wednesday. “And I’d prefer to keep this one issue separate because it’s that important. They’re both important issues, but combine them and it makes it more difficult to get the votes.”

While the Congressional Budget Office estimates that repealing the individual mandate would save $300 billion over a decade, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on Tuesday that the option is not on the table.

“I want to see that individual mandate repealed,” Brady said. “I just haven’t seen — no one has seen 50 votes in the Senate to do it.”

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Hatch signaled earlier this week that repealing the individual mandate would be a tough endeavor.

“I didn't think it should be there to begin with,” Hatch said Monday. “But the Dems aren't going to be for that, so it’s going to be very difficult to get rid of it.”

Seung Min Kim contributed to this report.