VP Mike Pence in Cleveland promises replacement of ‘Obamacare’

Vice President Mike Pence speaks on March 2, 2017, in Washington, D.C. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/TNS)

Credit: Olivier Douliery

Credit: Olivier Douliery

Vice President Mike Pence speaks on March 2, 2017, in Washington, D.C. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/TNS)

Vice President Mike Pence said the administration is still working to pull Ohio Senator Rob Portman from "no" to "yes" on President Trump's healthcare overhaul, which failed to receive a vote after Majority Leader Mitch McConnell pulled it Tuesday for lack of Republican support.

Pence was visiting Cleveland and taking a tour of an area manufacturing plant before meeting with small business owners to discuss health care.

Two Ohio gubernatorial candidates were in attendance - current Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor and Congressman Jim Renacci, who flew to Cleveland with Pence in Air Force Two.

According to Cleveland.com reporter Seth Richardson on Twitter, Pence said the party was, "close to achieving our signature goal of this administration of the repeal and replacement of Obamacare. I promise you we will get this thing done."

Pence said flexibility in Medicaid was part of the president’s reform plans and said, “one size fits all is literally collapsing in terms of Medicaid.”

On stage, the Vice President said Trump was the best friend American manufacturing has ever had, claiming Trump has cut more "red tape" than "any president in American history" while taking on the Paris Climate Accord, saying the administration represents "Paris not Pittsburgh, and Cleveland not Copehagen."

Pence remarked on the president’s tax and military plans before stepping off stage. He promised tax cuts once the Trump health care overhaul is finished, and promised the biggest military spending increase “since the days of Reagan.”

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