Ernst polls constituents on ObamaCare repeal plan

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who has not yet taken a position on Senate Republicans’ ObamaCare repeal-and-replace plan, is polling her constituents to gauge their feelings on the bill.

“Traveling across Iowa on my 99 county tour, I hear from Iowans who are looking for affordable and patient-centered healthcare solutions; your feedback is critical.  I will be closely examining the bill to see how it will affect insurance availability and affordability in 2018 and beyond,” Ernst wrote in an email to constituents.

. @SenJoniErnst email invites constituents to vote on whether they support the Senate health care bill. She hasn’t taken a position yet. pic.twitter.com/aS4SHFlgBv

— Jason Noble (@jasonnobleDMR) June 25, 2017

{mosads}The Iowa senator’s poll comes as the proposed legislation faces growing bipartisan criticism. Five Republican senators have said they will not vote for the bill in its current form. Only seven Republican senators so far have said they would vote for the bill or are leaning toward voting in favor of the measure, which could come to the floor this week.

The proposed legislation currently does not have enough votes to pass through the Senate, though Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he wants to hold a vote on the bill on Thursday. McConnell can only lose two votes from his conference, assuming that Democrats will unanimously vote against the bill. Vice President Pence could then be called in to break the tie.