After many weeks of lobbying both lawmakers and voters, Republican leaders in Washington struggled to obtain votes for the proposed replacement healthcare legislation known as the American Health Care Act, culminating in heated negotiations with hardline conservatives both on Capitol Hill and at the White House. Last Friday, House Speaker Paul Ryan pulled the replacement plan immediately prior to the scheduled vote, effectively leaving the Affordable Care Act (ACA) intact. It remains to be seen whether a replacement plan can theoretically or realistically satisfy both moderate and hard-right factions in Congress.

Originally published in the Daily Journal.