Health care: Hammer it out, Trump says
President Donald Trump told senators not to leave Washington, D.C. for their August recess until the address healthcare reform.
A group of Republican Senators left a late-night meeting Wednesday
optimistic they have momentum for repealing Obamacare but still doubtful
they have the votes to replace it.
Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, said some form of health care reform legislation will be presented for a vote next week, either the repeal-and-replace Better Care Reconciliation Act or an updated version of a 2015 repeal-only bill, Politico reported.
President Donald Trump, who met with senators earlier in the day to rally support for a repeal, urged senators not to take a planned August recess before addressing health care.
"We have to stay here. We shouldn't leave town, and we should hammer this out and get it done," he said.
At the meeting, Republicans tried to hash out issues like Medicaid funding that are holding back moderates from supporting a bill. Major opponent Sen. Susan Collins of Maine did not attend, citing previous commitments, per Politico.
Moving a bill forward looks unlikely as Collins, along with Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, have said they would vote no on a motion to proceed with a repeal-only measure.
Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and conservative Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Jerry Moran of Kansas also have voiced opposition. Rob Portman of Ohio is undecided on a procedural vote but will likely oppose a repeal-only bill, per Politico.
Murkowski said it remains uncertain what Senators would be voting on next week.
"It's not clear whether there will be a motion to proceed to this repeal and replace. I think that's still under consideration. There will be a vote on something, that much is certain,” she said.
Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, said some form of health care reform legislation will be presented for a vote next week, either the repeal-and-replace Better Care Reconciliation Act or an updated version of a 2015 repeal-only bill, Politico reported.
President Donald Trump, who met with senators earlier in the day to rally support for a repeal, urged senators not to take a planned August recess before addressing health care.
"We have to stay here. We shouldn't leave town, and we should hammer this out and get it done," he said.
At the meeting, Republicans tried to hash out issues like Medicaid funding that are holding back moderates from supporting a bill. Major opponent Sen. Susan Collins of Maine did not attend, citing previous commitments, per Politico.
Moving a bill forward looks unlikely as Collins, along with Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, have said they would vote no on a motion to proceed with a repeal-only measure.
Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and conservative Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Jerry Moran of Kansas also have voiced opposition. Rob Portman of Ohio is undecided on a procedural vote but will likely oppose a repeal-only bill, per Politico.
Murkowski said it remains uncertain what Senators would be voting on next week.
"It's not clear whether there will be a motion to proceed to this repeal and replace. I think that's still under consideration. There will be a vote on something, that much is certain,” she said.
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