Colorado Springs — Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., on Sunday declined to say whether he supports or opposes the Republican healthcare bill that could get a vote next week, and said he needs more time to read it.
Sasse was asked to describe his position at a gathering of donors to various groups founded by Charles and David Koch, but Sasse quickly noted that Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, was at his speech.
“I have a bruise just inside my collarbone from his thumb on me,” he said.
“This session is actually on the record, right?” Sasse asked. When reminded that press was in the room, Sasse quickly said, “I have nothing to announce.”
Also in attendance were Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Mike Lee, R-Utah, who have already said they cannot support the bill in its current state.
Five conservative senators have said they can’t support the bill so far, and Sasse may have hinted that he could be next to join that group, when he noted he was the third most conservative senator by voting record.
Sasse said he has so far read less than half of the bill, and needed time to read it. But he added that because the GOP is trying to pass the bill under the budget reconciliation process with just 51 votes, the bill is not a full repeal of Obamacare.
Sasse described the bill as “largely a Medicaid reform package.”
