Thune: ‘A Couple Of Issues’ Need To Be Addressed In Senate Health Bill

UNITED STATES - MAY 18: Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., leaves a briefing with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in the Capitol Visitor Center on the investigation of President Trump's campaign ties to Russia on May 18, 2017. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
UNITED STATES - MAY 18: Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., leaves a briefing with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in the Capitol Visitor Center on the investigation of President Trump's campaign ties to Russia on May 18... UNITED STATES - MAY 18: Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., leaves a briefing with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in the Capitol Visitor Center on the investigation of President Trump's campaign ties to Russia on May 18, 2017. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) (CQ Roll Call via AP Images) MORE LESS
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Despite calls from Republican senators like Susan Collins (R-ME) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) that tinkering won’t be enough to get them to support the GOP Obamacare repeal bill, Sen. John Thune (R-SD) said there are just a few “little” issues to address to get the votes Republicans need.

“We’re going to take the bill we have and try to, there are always little things, dials you can twist to try to attract support,” he said Wednesday, appearing on “Fox and Friends.”

He said there are “a couple of issues” conservatives want to address and “a couple of issues” moderates want to address, likely referring to the fact that several GOP Senators in Medicaid-expansion states have said they can’t support the plan because of its rollback of the expansion.

“It is a function of just trying to figure out that sweet spot where we can get the 50 votes you need to pass it and of course the assistance of Mike Pence, the vice president, and the chair if necessary,” he said. “We will get there.”

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Notable Replies

  1. Well you just rock on Senator Thune!

    Keep lookin’ for them "dials you can twist to try to attract support.”

    “Only” 63,700 people will lose coverage in South Dakota.

    You and South Dakota deserve each other.

  2. If Turtle had brought this bill to the floor the best estimate of the vote would have been 95-5. Five Rs voting no would’ve brought Turtle’s career down. That’s why it was pulled. Now they have to for 50 or so R converts.

  3. “It is a function of just trying to figure out that sweet spot where we can get the 50 votes you need to pass it "

    No, it’s a function of how big a tax cut your donors want and how many Americans you kill or bankrupt along the way.

  4. Translated : you’re going to need a bigger bribe to get my vote

  5. Actually, Senator Fuckstick, there are 22 million issues to be addressed…

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

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