President Trump told Republican senators at the White House on Tuesday that they are “close” to passing healthcare legislation but they need to come to a deal after not being able to secure enough votes.
“So we’re going to talk and we’re going to see what we can do,” Trump told the Republican senators. “We’re getting very close. But for the country, we have to have healthcare, and it can’t be Obamacare which is melting down.”
Senators traveled to the White House on Tuesday after Republican leaders delayed plans to vote on legislation to partially repeal and replace Obamacare this week because they hadn’t locked down the necessary number of votes.
With all Democratic senators opposed to the legislation, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell can only afford to lose two Republican votes if he wants it to pass under budget reconciliation. But on Tuesday, a number of Republicans opposed the legislation, with some conservatives arguing it didn’t repeal President Obama’s law enough.
“It’s melting down as we speak,” Trump told the senators. “Rates are going up.”
Trump told the senators they “have a chance to do something very, very important for the public.”
“This will be great if we get it done. And if we don’t get it done, it’s just going to be something that we’re not going to like,” he said.
Trump said at least 50 Republican senators were in attendance.
