Paul, Cassidy tweet back and forth on ObamaCare repeal bill

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Friday shot down an attempt by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) to win over his support for a last-ditch plan to repeal and replace ObamaCare, arguing that the measure keeps too much of former President Obama’s signature health care law.

In a brief exchange on Twitter that began with Paul accusing Cassidy’s measure of being “Obamacare Lite,” Cassidy argued that the bill would repeal the Affordable Care Act’s “entire architecture,” and offered to go over the legislation with the Kentucky senator.

{mosads}

“No thanks,” Paul replied in another tweet, asserting that the measure would preserve the vast majority of ObamaCare’s taxes and spending. 

I can’t support a bill that keeps 90% of Obamacare in place. #GrahamCassidy is not repeal or replace, it is more Obamacare Lite

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) September 15, 2017

.@RandPaul GCHJ repeals entire architecture of Obamacare & gives Kentucky control over its own health care. Willing to go over it with you.

— Bill Cassidy (@BillCassidy) September 15, 2017

.@BillCassidy it keeps 90% of Obamacare spending and 90% of Obamacare taxes. No thanks.

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) September 15, 2017

The exchange came as Cassidy and the bill’s co-sponsors — Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C), Dean Heller (R-Nev.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) — scramble to round up the 50 votes needed to pass the legislation before a Sept. 30 procedural deadline, after which Republicans will need 60 votes to avoid a Democratic filibuster.

Paul announced earlier Friday that he would not support the measure. 

The legislation would end ObamaCare funding to insurance companies for low-income patients and the Medicaid expansion. Instead, that funding would be converted into block grants for states.

President Trump met with the bipartisan Problems Solvers Caucus on Wednesday to discuss the possibility of backing an ObamaCare fix proposed by the group.