Schumer to Trump on healthcare: ‘Try me’

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is doubling down on his push to get President Trump to meet with Senate Democrats to discuss a bipartisan healthcare deal. 

“I repeat the offer I made to President Trump and my Republican friends yesterday: Let’s start over. Drop this fundamentally flawed approach … and we can discuss the problems that our Americans are actually concerned about: the cost, the quality, and availability on healthcare,” Schumer said from the Senate floor.

Schumer made an initial request on Wednesday that Trump agree to meet with the full Senate, but the president immediately dismissed the comments as not serious.

Schumer, however, stressed on Thursday that Democrats are ready to talk about improving healthcare when lawmakers return from the July 4 holiday recess.

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“I challenge them again, invite all of us to Blair House the first day we get back from recess. You think we’re not serious? Try us. Democrats are ready to turn the page on health care. When will my Republican friends realize it’s time for them to do the same,” he said. 

He added in a direct offer to Trump: “Mr. President, try me. The minute you make the invitation, we’ll take it in a very serious way. It’s not that audacious an idea.” 

The talks, as outlined by the New York Democrat on Wednesday, could focus on lowering insurance premiums and deductibles, as well as improving the cost and quality of healthcare.

No Democrats have supported the GOP bill aimed at repealing and replacing ObamaCare, and they repeatedly blasted Republicans for crafting the legislation behind closed doors.

Senate Republicans remain divided over core aspects of their healthcare plan, with Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) saying Wednesday that it was time to work with Democrats instead of trying to win over 50 of the 52 GOP senators.

Senate Democrats previously requested an all-Senate meeting on healthcare with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and the GOP caucus. After Republicans didn’t respond to the letter, they sent a follow-up, listing dozens of rooms around the Capitol where Republicans could have a hearing.

Schumer added on Thursday that Trump has “complained about a lack of bipartisanship, unfairly in our opinion.” 

“We’re offering a way to implement bipartisanship, and right now it’s you, not us, who’s stopping it. I hope my Republican friends, President Trump, the majority leader, think long and hard before dismissing our offer out of hand,” he said.