Barrasso endorses breaking up health bill

Senators should explore breaking the healthcare reform bill before Congress into smaller pieces, Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said Friday.

Reacting to recent reports that lawmakers may break the bill into pieces so as to be able to pass some non-controversial elements, Barrasso, who’s been at the forefront of the healthcare debate for the GOP, endorsed the idea.

“I like the idea of breaking it into pieces,” he said on CNN Radio. “See what we can get done right now then move onto the next thing.”

Some senators, most notably the centrists comprising the so-called “group of six” trying to hash out a bipartisan bill, have been exploring either trimming or breaking up the bill.

Barrasso defended that tactic, as well as other Republican efforts on the bill, as in the best interests of the country.

“This isn’t about political calculation, it’s about doing what’s best for the people of our country,” he said.