Ohio Gov. John Kasich to GOP: Graham-Cassidy health care bill not the 'right way'

Ohio Gov. John Kasich has a message for Republicans in Congress who may take up a last-minute effort to repeal Obamacare: Don't.

Republican senators are making one last push to overhaul Obamacare days before an end-of-September deadline, but it is not clear whether they have the votes to pass a bill.

The latest bill is known as "Graham-Cassidy" after its sponsors, Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Bill Cassidy, R-La.  The bill would keep much of the Obamacare tax structure in place, but it would give the money back to the states in the form of block grants so they can design their own health care systems. The bill would end the Obamacare expansion of Medicaid eligibility in 2020 and replace it with per capita block grants to states to address the needs of low income residents.

Kasich, who had spoken out against previous repeal bills, took to Twitter Monday to make it clear he opposes this latest effort as well:

Republicans are using a special budgetary procedure that allows health care legislation to pass with just 51 votes, rather than the usual 60. The window to use that procedure ends Sept. 30, and the Senate is not in session this Thursday or Friday. 

Republicans need a minimum of 50 of their 52 senators to vote for the bill, since no Democrats are expected to support the legislation.

Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, could be a key vote on the bill. He has not said where he stands.