President Trump: Senate health care bill needs 'a little negotiation'

USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Eager for a first big legislative win, President Trump said Thursday he will work closely with the Senate to negotiate final details on its new health care bill – at least, with the Republican side.

The GOP health care plan released Thursday needs "a little negotiation, but it's going to be very good," Trump told reporters during a meeting with leaders of the high tech industry.

As Trump aides talk to senators about a final product, the president who once described the House Republican health care bill as too "mean" did not specify which parts of the Senate version might need negotiating.

In prepared remarks to the high tech CEOs, Trump said the health care issue is "percolating" in Congress, and that he will likely have to rely on Republicans to secure passage.

"Obamacare is dead and we're putting a plan out today that is going to be negotiated," Trump said. "We'd love to have some Democrats' support but they're obstructionists."

Trump's comments signaled the beginning of a renewed White House lobbying campaign to secure passage of its first piece of major legislation, and in the process redeem campaign pledge to repeal the health care law signed by President Obama in 2010.

Trump officials also believe passage of a health care bill, with its changes in tax code, will make it easier to pay for a massive tax reform package next year. Working with the Republican majorities in both the House and Senate should also help with passage of an infrastructure bill down the line, they said.

First, however, they must overcome the political hurdles of health care, including some of the president's own past comments.

Since announcing his candidacy two years ago, Trump's campaign promises have centered around the idea that health care would be "a lot less expensive" for everyone. Trump has strongly objected to the kinds of Medicaid cuts and that are now a part of the Senate plan. And Trump has said his preferred plan would reduce premiums, while critics say the Senate bill will raise them for many.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said "the president hasn’t weighed in specifically on any specific measure in this bill" and his team is willing work with anyone to forge "the best bill we can – and that will be the one that he signs."

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Trump administration officials said they would address a wide variety of concerns by some Senate Republicans, from conservatives who don't believe the plan unveiled Thursday does enough to repeal Obamacare to moderates who protest Medicaid cutbacks.

In many ways, this is a trial run. A Senate Republican health care bill must be reconciled with the House version passed earlier this year, setting up more votes – and more administration lobbying.

Though a Senate vote is expected as early as next week, Sanders declined to predict when Trump would be able to sign a final bill – if there is one. "I don't think we're as focused on the timeline as we are on the final product," she said.

The White House legislative team will work directly with Senate and House members in the days and weeks ahead. Vice President Pence, a former U.S. House member, will also be involved.

The administration will also lend what it calls "technical" assistance on the Senate health care bill via the Office of Management and Budget, the Treasury Department, and the Department of Health and Human Services. Outside groups involved in the health care debate will also have a chance to voice their opinions to White House senior staff.

As during the House debate, Trump himself probably wouldn't enter the fray for one-on-one lobbying until right at voting time. Still, Senate Democrats have made clear they would tie the president to the final health care product, whatever it is.

"The president has said that the Senate bill needed heart," said Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. "The way this bill cuts health care is heartless."

Also Thursday, Trump predecessor Barack Obama weighed in against the Republican health care plan, saying in a Facebook post that "I still hope that there are enough Republicans in Congress who remember that public service is not about sport or notching a political win ... It's to make people’s lives better, not worse."

Yet during an appearance in Washington, Pence said Congress and the Trump administration need to act because the Affordable Care Act passed under Obama is failing. The vice president said that he and Trump "are determined before this summer is out to keep our promise to the American people to repeal and replace Obamacare and give the American people the kind of world class healthcare that they deserve."

For their part, many Republicans are trying to figure out what to do – and some have said they're using Trump's past statements as litmus tests.

Sen.. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said he remained undecided about the bill after the GOP briefing Thursday. He said he wanted to read the bill carefully before making up his mind.

"I will study the bill to determine whether it fulfills President Trump's campaign promises to lower premiums, maintain coverage and protect those with pre-existing conditions without mandates," Cassidy said.

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