Graham knocks Obama over GOP repeal criticism

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is firing back at former President Obama after he said it was “aggravating” to watch Republicans repeatedly try to repeal ObamaCare. 

“It’s no surprise President Obama opposes sending money and power back to the states and closer to where the patients live. Obamacare was designed with the exact opposite goal in mind — which is to consolidate health care power and decision-making in Washington,” Graham, a co-sponsor of the latest GOP repeal effort, said in a statement. 

He added that it was “unrealistic” to think Obama “would acknowledge his signature issue is failing.” 

{mosads}Graham’s comments come after Obama described Republicans’ Graham-Cassidy repeal bill as “aggravating” and “frustrating.” 

“All of this being done without any economic or actuarial or plain common sense rationale … it frustrates, and it’s certainly frustrating to have to mobilize every couple of months to keep our leaders from inflicting real human suffering on our constituents,” the former president said an event sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. 

“But typically, that’s how progress is won and how progress is maintained,” he added.

The rhetorical back-and-forth comes as Senate Republicans are gearing up for a second attempt at repealing ObamaCare. 

A spokesman for Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said earlier Wednesday that it was the Kentucky Republican’s “intention” to bring up a bill spearheaded by Graham and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) next week.

The Graham-Cassidy bill would repeal much of ObamaCare, ending funding for Medicaid’s expansion and the healthcare law’s subsidies that help people buy insurance. In their place, block grants would be given to states.

Graham added that the legislation would break the “ObamaCare mold.” 

“The Democratic Party is heavily invested in Washington controlling health care. Our last best chance to repeal and replace Obamacare is with Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson,” he said, referring to GOP Sens. Dean Heller (Nev.) and Ron Johnson (Wis.). 

Republicans face an end-of-the-month deadline to pass ObamaCare repeal if they want to avoid a Democratic filibuster, which would require 60 votes to break.

But it remains unclear if they will be able to get the 50 votes needed to allow Vice President Pence to break a tie. 

GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Susan Collins (Maine) and John McCain (Ariz.) are undecided. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has said he will oppose the legislation.