McConnell: New ObamaCare repeal bill has ‘great deal of support’

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on Tuesday that the most recent bill to repeal and replace ObamaCare is “intriguing” as his caucus mulls bringing it up for a vote next week. 

“It’s an intriguing idea and one that has a great deal of support. As we continue to discuss that legislation, I want to thank Senator Graham and Senator Cassidy for all of their hard work,” McConnell said from the Senate floor. 

McConnell’s comments mark the first time he’s publicly weighed in this week on the bill, which is gaining momentum as Republicans face an end-of-the-month deadline to repeal ObamaCare with a simple majority.

The bill from Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.) would end funding for Medicaid’s expansion and the health-care law’s subsidies that help low-income people buy insurance. In their place, block grants would be given to states.

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Republicans have, so far, failed at making good on their yearslong campaign promise to repeal and replace ObamaCare. Under the special budget rules being used, GOP leadership needs to win over 50 of their 52 senators, which would allow Vice President Pence break a tie. 

If they want to pass a health-care bill with a simple majority, allowing them to bypass a Democratic filibuster, they need to pass legislation by the end of September.

Several key senators, including GOP Sens. John McCain (Ariz.) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), are undecided on the bill. Both McCain and Murkowski met with McConnell on Monday. 

Graham and Cassidy have both said they have roughly 48 GOP senators supporting the bill, putting them short — but close to — the required 50 votes.

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) is weighing support for the repeal bill within the GOP caucus but declined to discuss how many votes Republicans have.

“I’m not going to tell you what my whip back is but we’re working on it. There’s still a lot of question because it has changed,” he said on Tuesday. “I’m more hopeful now than I have been. It’s sort of like Lazarus raised from the dead.”

If the bill were to come to the floor, Senate leaders would likely need to win over two of the three Republicans who voted no on the “skinny” ObamaCare bill over the summer: Murkowski, McCain and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).

GOP Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.) has called the bill “Obamacare lite” and said he will not support it.