President Donald Trump encouraged Republicans in Congress to work on repealing and replacing the ACA, but after the Graham-Cassidy bill failed to garner the support necessary to pass, Mr. Trump now says he will work with Democrats on a future bipartisan healthcare bill, according to USA Today.
"I will negotiate with Democrats to see if we can make a bipartisan bill," Mr. Trump said Wednesday.
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, announced Monday she would not support the Graham-Cassidy bill, joining Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., in their opposition to the proposal. Under budget reconciliation rules, which are set to expire Sept. 30, Senate Republicans would need 50 votes to pass healthcare legislation, with Vice President Mike Pence acting as a tiebreaker. However, without the support of Ms. Collins, Mr. McCain and Mr. Paul, the GOP was left with only 49 votes in favor of Graham-Cassidy.
Mr. Trump said he hopes Congress will vote on new healthcare legislation in early 2018, and added he plans to sign an executive order in the meantime that would allow people to purchase insurance plans across state lines, though it is unclear if he has the authority to issue such an order.
More Articles on Leadership:
Noventis to help restore park damaged in Hurricane Harvey
Mercer appoints Janis Koltun principal in Minneapolis office: 3 things to know
Dr. Atul Gawande: 'Even people bankrupted by their healthcare costs said it wasn't a right'