House Speaker Paul Ryan has said the House would pass new legislation from Senate Republicans that would send Obamacare funding to the states to use as they like, according to Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.
“Paul Ryan told me to my face, ‘if you pass it, we pass it,'” Graham told reporters Tuesday.
Graham was talking about a plan he developed with Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., to give states more control over healthcare spending.
The plan is drawing support from Republicans, who may try to pass it by next week, when they can still advance it in the Senate with just 51 votes, instead of the usual 60.
Graham indicated that the idea that the House might follow suit and pass the bill quickly next week could help prompt Senate passage in the coming days.
“Mitch McConnell and the leadership has done everything we’ve asked and then some,” Graham said. “I spoke to Paul Ryan, the speaker of the House. He says, ‘I like it. You send it to the House, it’s gonna pass.'”
Senate Republicans emerged from their weekly caucus meeting on Tuesday optimistic about the bill’s passage, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., stopped short of saying a vote would be held.
President Trump and Vice President Pence have been calling Senate Republicans in a push to get the bill over the finish line by next week.
