President Donald Trump on Wednesday morning made his thoughts clear on the latest Republican-backed Senate health care initiative, saying Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.) is a "negative force" in the effort to repeal and replace Obamacare.
After the GOP failed to pass a health care plan over the summer, the Graham-Cassidy bill, proposed by Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (La.), has emerged as the next front-runner to replace Obamacare's top-down federal structure. The bill aims to send all future health care funding to the states.
Paul is not a fan of the latest attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare. He came out against the proposal Tuesday on Fox News, saying the plan was "another big government boondoggle."
"Rand Paul is a friend of mine but he is such a negative force when it comes to fixing healthcare. Graham-Cassidy Bill is GREAT! Ends Ocare!" Trump tweeted on Wednesday morning.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/910476107287269376
In a consecutive tweet, Trump continued to comment on the Graham-Cassidy proposal and the upcoming Senate health care vote.
"I hope Republican Senators will vote for Graham-Cassidy and fulfill their promise to Repeal & Replace Obamacare. Money direct to the states," Trump tweeted.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/910477734635286528
Senate Republicans must pass a bill by the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30, if they are going to pass a bill purely along party lines, without support from Democrats, Vox reported. At the end of this fiscal year, Republicans lose the reconciliation privileges that currently would allow them to pass a bill with a simple majority, the Senate parliamentarian ruled Friday.