Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) on Wednesday appeared to respond to President Trump, saying he is not in the hospital, but is recovering at home in Mississippi.
His comments came after Trump tweeted earlier in the day that the Senate GOP’s ObamaCare repeal bill needed more time because one “yes vote” was in the hospital — an apparent reference to Cochran, who is being treated in Mississippi for a urological issue.
“With one Yes vote in hospital & very positive signs from Alaska and two others (McCain is out), we have the HCare Vote, but not for Friday!” Trump tweeted Wednesday morning.
But Cochran, apparently the “hospitalized” senator referenced in Trump’s tweet, responded that he’s not actually in the hospital.
“Thanks for the well-wishes,” Cochran tweeted. “I’m not hospitalized, but am recuperating at home in Mississippi and look forward to returning to work soon.”
{mosads}Cochran’s office said in a statement the senator “expects to resume his regular work schedule soon.”
Republicans face a Sept. 30 deadline to pass an ObamaCare repeal under reconciliation, which would allow them pass a bill with a simple majority and avoid the usual 60-vote filibuster threshold. But the Graham-Cassidy repeal bill, the GOP’s last-ditch attempt to pass a repeal before the deadline, is considered dead after failing to win enough Republican votes.