Trump insists repeal bill would pass if GOP had more time

President Trump on Wednesday insisted ObamaCare repeal in the Senate would be possible if he just had more time.

After nine months in which the GOP has been unable to get a repeal bill to his desk despite holding control of the House and Senate and not facing a filibuster, Trump insisted Republicans were close but could just not get the job done by Friday.

In a tweet, he said there were “positive signs from Alaska,” an apparent reference to Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who has been undecided on the most recent GOP health-care bill and opposed an earlier repeal measure.

While Trump said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was out, he also referred to positive signs from two others, who he did not name.

{mosads}And he appeared to suggest that Republicans also needed more time because of a GOP yes vote who Trump said was in the hospital — a possible reference to Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), who according to a spokesperson is not hospitalized at the moment. 

“With one Yes vote in hospital & very positive signs from Alaska and two others (McCain is out), we have the HCare Vote, but not for Friday!” the president tweeted. 

With one Yes vote in hospital & very positive signs from Alaska and two others (McCain is out), we have the HCare Vote, but not for Friday!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 27, 2017

We will have the votes for Healthcare but not for the reconciliation deadline of Friday, after which we need 60. Get rid of Filibuster Rule!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 27, 2017

Republicans in the Senate gave up on their hopes of holding a vote on a repeal bill on Tuesday after it became clear the legislation would not win 50 votes. 

Despite Trump’s tweet, it’s far from clear that more time would have got the GOP to 50 votes, though McCain had criticized a rushed process as one reason for his opposition.

The suggestion that a Republican senator in the hospital was an obstacle seemed to be a red herring.

Cochran’s office said in a statement on Tuesday the senator was being treated for a urological issue in Mississippi and “expects to resume his regular work schedule soon.” A spokesperson for the senator told The Hill that Cochran was not in the hospital.

Republicans have been seeking to pass ObamaCare repeal under special budgetary rules that prevent Democrats from filibustering the legislation. Those rules expire on Saturday, meaning 60 votes will then be necessary to move the bill forward.

Trump has repeatedly called for Republicans to change the rules and remove the legislative filibuster.