Graham predicts ObamaCare repeal bill will get 50 votes

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is predicting he will get enough votes on his bill to repeal ObamaCare and says House leadership has pledged they would also pass it.

“I really believe we’re going to get 50 Republican votes,” Graham told reporters after a closed-door GOP caucus lunch on Tuesday. “I’ve never felt better about where we’re at.”

He added that House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) has told him that if “you pass it, we pass it.”

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Graham’s bullish tone comes as he and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) are trying to win over enough support for their bill that would repeal and replace much of ObamaCare.

The White House and Ryan have thrown their weight behind the bill as lawmakers face an end-of-the-month deadline to pass a repeal bill with a simple majority and avoid a Democratic filibuster. 

An ObamaCare repeal bill couldn’t pass the Senate if Republicans needed 60 votes, including the support of at least eight Democrats or independents. 

Both Graham and Cassidy have said they have roughly 48 GOP senators willing to support their bill. 

Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Susan Collins (Maine), and John McCain (Ariz.) are undecided on the bill. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has said he cannot support it. 

Graham also predicted that some Democrats could be “struggling” to vote “no,” even though the 48 members of the conference are all expected to oppose Graham-Cassidy. 

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) separately said Democrats wouldn’t support the bill. 

Graham also knocked legislation Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) unveiled last week that would introduce a single-payer health care system.

Graham called it “BernieCare,” and asked “so here’s the choice for America: Socialism or federalism?”