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Senate Republicans try to flip Trump on Alexander-Murray

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn speaks with Sen. Lindsey Graham at a hearing. Photo: Andrew Harnik / AP

Senate Republicans are urging the president to back the bipartisan Alexander-Murray deal to stabilize insurance markets, Politico reports. The White House said Wednesday that Trump does not support the bill in its current form.

What they're saying:

  • Sen. Lindsey Graham told Trump, "You can't save Obamacare but you can keep the markets from collapsing until we get a replacement, which will be Graham-Cassidy ... I just don't see a transition to Obamacare to a block grant that doesn't require at least a couple years to implement." Trump has said his ultimate goal for health care reform will involve block grants to the states, like the Graham-Cassidy plan.
  • Sen. Lamar Alexander said he's spoken to the president four times in the last 10 days about his bill.
  • Sen. John Cornyn said, "I don't think there's any chance of passing it without the president's support."
  • Sen. John McCain said, "If there's a package that's supported by the majority of the American people and the Congress, then we will pass it," signaling he thinks the president's opposition shouldn't matter.