WASHINGTON (AP) Not any longer.
And with that, a triumphant Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared to close the book on a divisive Republican debate, convincing President Donald Trump to shelve plans to replace the Affordable Care Act until after the 2020 election.
I made it clear to him that we were not going to be doing that in the Senate, McConnell told reporters on Tuesday.
It was a rare public disclosure of private counsel from the Republican leader. And it signaled that, after two years in Trumps Washington, Republicans on Capitol Hill are figuring out how to handle the president and his impulsive swerves on policy.
Trump insisted Tuesday it was his idea to switch course.
I wanted to delay it myself, Trump said during an event at the White House. I want to put it after the election.
Facing a court deadline, Trump seized on health care last week, backing a lawsuit seeking to strike down the Affordable Care Act. Trumps motivations were as political as they were legislative. He didnt want to cede the issue again in the 2020 campaign, according to a person familiar with the conversations who was not authorized to speak publicly.
Were going to keep the presidency, and well vote in the best health care package weve ever had, he said.
Trump and McConnell had not spoken for days. The president stunned Republicans last week by announcing he wanted to try again to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, insisting the GOP could become the party of health care. Republicans wanted no part of a do-over after their failure to replace the law in 2017. Facing a revolt from the ranks, McConnell told the president he needed him to listen, according to a person who was granted anonymity to discuss the private call.
McConnell explained to Trump that senators are open to tackling specific aspects of health care namely, trying to lower prescription drug prices. But Trumps promised big, new health care bill wasnt going happen with Democrats running the House. Instead, Trump could focus on the issue during the election.
Several times McConnell told Trump to listen, the person said. And it worked. Trump told McConnell he accepted the situation and would be developing a plan that he would take to the American people during the 2020 campaign. That night, Trump tweeted as much.
So we dont have a misunderstanding about that, McConnell said Tuesday.
Trumps shift he tweeted late Monday that Congress will vote on a GOP plan after the elections when Republicans hold the Senate & win back the House made clear that the health care debate will be left for voters to decide during the race for the White House.
That arrangement suits Democrats just fine. They are denouncing Trumps attempt to overturn the ACA in court and floating various health care plans, including an expansion of government-funded Medicare with so called Medicare for All, setting up a stark contrast between the parties for the campaign trail.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Trump will hold Americans hostage through 2020 on an issue that affects millions of people. He said that Trump insists he has a magic plan that we can see if only the American people re-elect him.
