Republicans could still repeal and replace ObamaCare if they are able to keep the House majority and gain seats in the Senate, Republican National Committee (RNC) spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany told Hill TV’s “Rising” on Thursday.
McEnany specifically noted legislation proposed by GOP Sens. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (La.), which was defeated last fall.
“We were a big proponent of Graham-Cassidy. That, of course, was the Senate bill that gave the states the power and allowed each state to select what the best way forward was for them on health care,” McEnany told Hill TV’s Krystal Ball and Buck Sexton on “Rising.”
“That was one vote short, and if we maintain the House as we expect we will, pick up a few Senate seats, Graham-Cassidy can become a reality,” she said.
Republicans, including President Trump, campaigned heavily on repealing and replacing former President Obama’s signature health-care law for years.
Losing the congressional battle on ObamaCare was a disappointment for Trump, though he was able to win repeal of the individual insurance mandate through the GOP’s tax-cut law.
Democrats hoping to win back the House hope to focus their arguments this fall on health care. They think the GOP’s efforts to repeal ObamaCare backfired politically on Republicans.
The Graham-Cassidy bill would have given states $500 billion of federal block grants over 10 years to either repeal, repair or keep their ObamaCare programs.
Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), John McCain (R-Ariz.), and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) broke with their party and killed the repeal effort last September.
— Julia Manchester
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