Rep. Tom Cole said it wasn’t worth risking a vote to partially repeal and replace Obamacare on Friday, because it’s not clear they have the votes needed to pass it, even after a week of close talks with Republicans.
“I think we’re closer but we’re not there yet,” the Oklahoma Republican said on CSPAN Friday morning.
Republicans added new language to the bill to let states opt out of additional Obamacare rules, which won the support of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. But it also created new worries among centrist Republicans who are worried the bill goes too far in eliminating health coverage for people who need it.
Cole said that a handful of House Republicans aren’t in Washington, which made it a riskier gamble if leadership pushed for a vote Friday.
“It’s not clear whether or not we’re at 216,” he said. Republicans actually need 217 members to pass a bill, after a new member was sworn into office this week.
“The speaker said it best: we’re not putting it on the floor until we know we have the votes,” he said.
