Collins: ‘It’s hard for me to see the bill passing this week’

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) on Sunday expressed skepticism that the GOP healthcare plan would pass the Senate this week.

“It’s hard for me to see the bill passing this week,” Collins said on ABC’s “This Week.”

“But that’s up to the majority leader. We could well be in all night a couple of nights working through what will be an open amendment process, and I think that at least is good,” she continued.

Collins said she thinks the process could have been a lot better.

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“I would have liked to see the Democrats step up to the table and negotiate with us now, not wait till this bill is either passed or defeated,” she said.

During the interview, Collins also raised several issues with the Senate’s bill.

“Based on what I’ve seen, given the inflation rate that would be applied in the outer years to the Medicaid program, the Senate bill is going to have more impact on the Medicaid program than even the House bill,” she said.

When asked if she is opposed to the bill, Collins said she is waiting to see the Congressional Budget Office’s analysis, but added she has “very serious concerns about the bill.”

The Senate’s healthcare legislation currently does not have enough support to pass, according to The Hill’s Whip List. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has little margin for error, as he can afford just two defections from his conference with all Democrats expected to oppose the bill. Vice President Mike Pence could then be called in to break the tie.