Top GOP senator rips Ryan for rejecting bipartisan outreach

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) on Thursday criticized Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) for saying he does not want to work with Democrats on healthcare.

“We have come a long way in our country when the speaker of one party urges a president NOT to work with the other party to solve a problem,” Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, tweeted.

We have come a long way in our country when the speaker of one party urges a president NOT to work with the other party to solve a problem.

— Senator Bob Corker (@SenBobCorker) March 30, 2017

{mosads}Ryan earlier Thursday rejected President Trump’s recent call to move toward a bipartisan healthcare plan, saying he would rather not work with Democrats.

“I don’t want that to happen,” he told “CBS This Morning.”

“[If] the Republican Congress allows the perfect to be the enemy of the good, I worry we’ll push the president into working with Democrats. He’s been suggesting that as much,” Ryan added.

Trump predicted Monday that Democrats will ultimately collaborate with Republicans on healthcare once ObamaCare starts failing.

“The Democrats will make a deal with me on healthcare as soon as ObamaCare folds — not long,” he tweeted. “Do not worry, we are in very good shape!”

GOP leadership abandoned its legislation for repealing and replacing ObamaCare in a shocking defeat Friday after dozens of House conservatives and centrist Republicans said they would not back it.

Ryan was instrumental in promoting the American Health Care Act but could not convince enough conservative and moderate Republicans to back it.