GOP senator: 'I don't think there are 40 votes to repeal'

(Image credit: Screenshot/Twitter/CNN)

published 19 July 2017

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) admitted Wednesday that there might not even be 40 votes for Senate Republicans' plan to repeal ObamaCare now and replace it later. "I don't think there are 40 votes to repeal and say to the American people, 'Well, trust us to come up with something in the next couple of years.' I don't think that's a good idea," Alexander told CNN reporters.

Alexander's comments came just after he and other Senate Republicans attended a luncheon hosted by President Trump at the White House to talk about health care. On Monday evening, it became clear that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R-Ky.) plan to repeal and replace ObamaCare did not have enough support to move forward, leaving Republicans to resort to attempting repeal without a replacement in hand.

Three senators — enough to kill the effort — have already announced their opposition to a clean repeal, suggesting Alexander might have a point.