WASHINGTON (AP) — A long-time Republican lawmaker said Tuesday he is “very pessimistic” that his party will push a health care bill through the Senate, even as a colleague warned leaders about retaliation by conservative voters should they react to a collapse of the measure by striking a deal with Democrats.
The downbeat assessments came with Republican leaders aiming toward a climactic Senate vote next week on their wounded legislation erasing much of President Barack Obama’s health care law. The comments highlighted the divisions that top Republicans must heal to have a shot of pushing a bill through the chamber embodying one of the GOP’s top priorities. Continue reading “Longtime GOP senator pessimistic about health bill prospects”