Republican senator says health care deal "unlikely"

Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) offered a cynical view Thursday of the Senate's outlook on the GOP's health care bill, stating that he doesn't think they'll reach a deal on the House-passed plan when the Senate returns from a recess next week, per the WSJ.

"It's unlikely that we will get a health-care deal," Burr told North Carolina news station WXII 12 News. He added that that the bill was "dead on arrival," and said "I don't see a comprehensive health-care plan this year."

Why it matters: It's just an opinion from one senator, but Burr is no stranger to health care. He and Sen. Orrin Hatch wrote one of the early Republican plans to replace the Affordable Care Act. So it's a pretty good sign of pessimism within the ranks.