In what may be a critical flip for the passage of the Republican healthcare bill - not to mention boosting Trump's image as dealmaker - moments ago Republican reps. Fred Upton and Billy Long both said Wednesday they will support the GOP's ObamaCare repeal-and-replace bill with the addition of a new amendment Upton drafted. Until this morning, both had opposed the bill, and prompted us to write on Monday that Republicans are just one vote away from failure again. 

The two Republicans told reporters at the White House after a meeting with President Trump that they are ready to vote for the bill once a new amendment Upton helped devise - which would boost funding for people with pre-existing conditions - is added. The amendment would provide $8 billion over the next 5 years to reduce premiums and other costs for those with pre-existing conditions who have a gap in coverage and reside in states that received waivers from some of Obamacare's requirements.