Collins says she hasn’t heard from Trump on healthcare: He’s ‘focusing on others’

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said she hasn’t heard from President Trump ahead of a Senate vote on healthcare.

“I’ve had conversations with Vice President (Mike) Pence, and [Medicaid and Medicare Services Administrator] Seema Verma, and [chief of staff] Reince Priebus has called me a few times, to discuss the bill,” Collins, a vocal opponent of the Senate GOP’s healthcare bill, told Reuters Monday night in an interview.

“But the president, understandably I think, is focusing on others.”

{mosads}Collins was pressed on whether she believes Trump has given up on her.

“I don’t know, but it sounded that way from one of his press statements that I saw,” she said.

“He said something like – ‘Susan Collins, she’s from Maine.’ As if that explained it.”

Republicans are expected on Tuesday to vote to take up the House-passed healthcare bill.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will need 50 of the Senate’s 52 Republicans to support the motion to proceed, and the vote is expected to be close.

Collins has said she would vote against the motion to proceed to the revised Senate bill and expressed opposition last week to the repeal-only measure.

Early Tuesday, Trump urged Republicans to fulfill their promise to repeal and replace ObamaCare.

“Big day for HealthCare. After 7 years of talking, we will soon see whether or not Republicans are willing to step up to the plate!” Trump tweeted.

“ObamaCare is torturing the American People.The Democrats have fooled the people long enough. Repeal or Repeal & Replace! I have pen in hand.”