Sen. Susan Collins said she has a written agreement from Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to honor the promises made to her for her vote on tax reform.
Collins has seemingly been left in the lurch this week after House conservatives refused to say they’d back some of the promises made to her during tax reform negotiations.
Among Collins’ proposals are including a provision that replenishes Obamacare subsidy payments that would reduce premiums. Another bill promised for consideration is a bill she sponsored that gives states $10 billion in reinsurance funding over two years. Reinsurance funding would help cover the sickest claims from insurers on Obamacare’s exchanges, which in return would lead to lower premiums.
But Collins said on CBS’ “Face The Nation” she has no reason to think the congressional leaders will back out of their promise.
“I’m absolutely confident, I have it in writing, a statement by both Mitch McConnell and Speaker Ryan,” she said.
While the tax reform bill is negotiated in conference committee, Collins said she’s been given no reason to worry that her deal has been tossed aside.
“I’ve had a lot of conversations, not only with my colleagues in the Senate but with my colleagues from the House side and with the White House, I’ve talked to the president three times about this issue, and once again I have no reason to believe that that commitment will not be kept,” she said.
Collins added at she’s reserving a statement about how she’d vote on the bill until she sees the final product from the committee.
