Trump called Cruz to press him on ObamaCare repeal bill: report
BY BRANDON CARTER - 06/23/17 10:17 PM EDT 262
President Trump has joined the effort led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to get the 50 votes needed for the Senate GOP bill to repeal ObamaCare, according to a new report.
The Washington Post reports that Trump personally called Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Thursday to speak with him about changes he’d like to see in the bill.
Cruz was among four conservative Republicans who announced on Thursday their opposition to the Senate bill repealing ObamaCare. Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.), Mike Lee (Utah) and Ron Johnson (Wis.) said in a statement that they weren't ready to vote “yes” on the current bill.
“Currently, for a variety of reasons, we are not ready to vote for this bill, but we are open to negotiation and obtaining more information before it is brought to the floor," the statement said.
"There are provisions in this draft that represent an improvement to our current healthcare system but it does not appear this draft as written will accomplish the most important promise that we made to Americans: to repeal Obamacare and lower their healthcare costs.”
Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) also announced his opposition to the bill on Friday, making him the fifth GOP senator to come out against the legislation. Heller raised concerns about the bill’s phaseout of ObamaCare’s Medicaid expansion.
"It’s going to be very difficult to get me to a yes," Heller said.
Trump reportedly worked the phones during the House GOP vote on their bill to repeal and replace ObamaCare.
"The president showed patience and vigilance and he worked the phones, he and the Vice President [Pence]," White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said in an interview with Fox News's Jeanine Pirro last month.
