GOP senator: House should ‘start over’ on ObamaCare repeal legislation

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said Thursday morning the GOP’s plan to repeal and replace ObamaCare won’t pass the Senate and the House should “start over” and get it right. 

1. House health-care bill can’t pass Senate w/o major changes. To my friends in House: pause, start over. Get it right, don’t get it fast.

— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) March 9, 2017

2. GOP shouldn’t act like Dems did in O’care. No excuse to release bill Mon night, start voting Wed. With no budget estimate!

— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) March 9, 2017

3. What matters in long run is better, more affordable health care for Americans, NOT House leaders’ arbitrary legislative calendar.

— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) March 9, 2017

Cotton’s early morning tweets came just hours after the House Ways and Means Committee advanced the GOP plan, known as the American Health Care Act.

{mosads}As of 7 a.m. Thursday, the Energy and Commerce Committee was still working through 100 amendments proposed by Democrats, who are looking to stall the legislation because it does not have a score from the Congressional Budget Office. 

House leadership is looking to fast track the plan to the floor before the Easter recess, with the Senate to take it up after. 

But some senators consider the House legislation to be dead on arrival.

Senators have expressed concerns about the plan’s repeal of the Medicaid expansion, its refundable tax credits, and other provisions. 

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has said he will introduce his own repeal legislation in the coming days.