Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
President-elect Donald Trump will begin to dismantle the Affordable Care Act almost immediately when he takes office this month through a series of executive orders, Mike Pence reportedly told House Republicans in a meeting on Capitol Hill on Wednesday morning. Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY), a steadfast Trump ally in the lower chamber, said Congressional Republicans will have a replacement bill ready in six months. Meanwhile, President Obama was meeting separately with Democrats to discuss a strategy going forward for shielding his signature legislative achievement. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) was tweeting from inside the meeting and said Obama criticized the GOP for its handling of the repeal process. “You don’t tear down a house before having plans and building a new one,” Obama purportedly said, adding that he could have done a better job “communicating the importance” of the Affordable Care Act.