Trump tells GOP Senators: Don’t leave town without a Health Care Bill

President Donald Trump held a lunch with Republican Senators Wednesday to push the members of Congress to take up the Obamacare repeal or repeal and replace bill before leaving for the summer recess.

The president undercut Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell‘s strategy to consider a bill that only repeals parts of Obamacare but with a two-year delay during which replacement can be debated.

“I think the people of this country need more than a repeal. They need a repeal and a replace,” he said.

Trump told the group that they should commit to getting health care fixed before the summer recess or not go on vacation at all.

“For seven years you promised the American people that you would repeal Obamacare. People are hurting,” the president exclaimed. “Inaction is not an option and frankly, I don’t think we should leave town unless we have a health insurance plan – unless we can give our people great health care.”

The president also hammered Republicans over their insincere repeal votes during the last administration.

“For seven years, you had an easy route,” Trump told Senate Republicans. “We’ll repeal, we’ll replace and he’s [Obama] never going to sign it.”

Trump admonished the few Senators who have, up to this point, held up any debate on either the repeal and replace bill, named the Better Care Reconciliation Act, or the repeal bill by threatening to vote “no” on a motion-to-proceed to consideration. That vote would not pass the bills, but allow them to the Senate floor where they could be debated and amended.

“Any Senator who votes against starting debate is really telling America that you’re fine with Obamacare,” he scolded.

The president also pointed out the unwillingness of Democrats to help fix Obama’s failing health care law.

“I looked at it. We have no Democrat Help,” he said. “They are obstructionists. That’s all they’re good at – is obstruction. They have no ideas. They’ve gone so far left. They’re looking for single-payer.”