Senators said Tuesday that they are holding bipartisan discussions about how to work on healthcare, though they haven’t shared details of what they are discussing.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told reporters Tuesday that an approach was being worked on that could involve Democrats and said he would elaborate on a plan in the next day or two.
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said he talked to Graham Tuesday morning, who told him he wanted to meet on healthcare.
“If you want to repair things and fix things, count me in,” Manchin said. “I will sit here and talk to you. I haven’t seen specifics. I am anxious to see specifics if he has it.”
Other Democrats have told the Washington Examiner in recent weeks that they would be willing to work on a bipartisan bill to fix Obamacare. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., also has said that if Republicans cannot agree on a bill, they will have to work with Democrats to fix the exchanges, which are facing uncertainty for next year.
Republicans have been unable to agree on a healthcare bill that would repeal and replace portions of Obamacare. The latest version of a healthcare bill could come as early as Thursday, but key centrist senators have said that they oppose the bill and have encouraged working with Democrats on a solution.
Conservatives, who also oppose the bill, have pushed a different approach recently proposed by President Trump and supported by Vice President Mike Pence. The proposal would involve repealing Obamacare now — by passing a bill the upper chamber previously sent to former President Barack Obama, who vetoed it — and then repairing it later.
