President Donald Trump called the healthcare stabilization proposal drafted by Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., "a very good solution" Tuesday afternoon, but backtracked later in the night by saying he could not support a bill that funded cost-sharing subsidies, according to ABC News.
Sens. Alexander and Murray announced the bill — which would fund cost-sharing subsidies for two years while also providing states more flexible innovation waivers to reform their insurance marketplaces — Tuesday. President Trump announced last week he would end funding for cost-sharing subsidies, which had never received Congressional appropriation.
During a Tuesday night speech to the conservative Heritage Foundation, President Trump said, "I continue to believe Congress must find a solution to the [ACA] mess instead of providing bailouts to insurance companies."
While some Republicans view the subsidies as supportive of the ACA legislation they spent all summer trying to repeal, Mr. Alexander said they are necessary.
"This agreement avoids chaos. I don't know a Republican or Democrat who benefits from chaos," said Mr. Alexander, according to ABC News.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has not said whether or not he supports the bill, but Mr. Alexander believes Congress will be able to pass the measure before the end of the year.