Alexander said he believed Republican senators Lindsey Graham, Bill Cassidy, John McCain, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins would likely back the deal, and that he was actively “rounding up” co-sponsors on both sides of the aisle.
“There is an emerging, encouraging consensus,” Alexander said.
But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has made no guarantee to bring the deal to the Senate floor for a vote, and barely mentioned the deal during his weekly press conference. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said he believed that McConnell would move on the deal if the votes are there.
“Until we get to another vote on Graham-Cassidy or some other alternative, this may be the best way to go forward,” Thune said, mentioning the most recent failed attempt to repeal Obamacare.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats expressed “broad support” for the deal in their weekly policy lunch, but said details still remained to be worked out.
It’s still unclear if conservatives, particularly those in the House, would go along with the plan. Rep. Mark Walker, R-N.C., chair of the Republican Study Committee, has repeatedly said that Congress should not fund cost-sharing reduction payments.
“I’m hoping everyone understands how much resistance there is [among conservatives] for funding these markets that will never be self sustaining,” Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., told reporters. “In order to get them to agree to fund these, we need to see significant market reforms to reduce the premiums.”
— Olivier Knox contributed to this report.
Article Appeared @https://www.yahoo.com/news/senators-reach-bipartisan-deal-restore-obamacare-health-care-payments-195750866.html