Senate Republicans are apparently just one week away from a vote on their health-care bill, but White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer isn't sure President Trump has seen a draft copy of the bill. "I don't know that. I know that there was some chatter today. I know the president has been on the phone extensively with the leader and with key senators, so I don't know if he's seen the legislation or not," Spicer said Tuesday at a White House press briefing, his first on camera since June 12.
Has Trump seen a draft of the Senate health care bill?
Spicer: “I don’t know that ... there was some chatter today” https://t.co/XTGwHuaEir
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) June 20, 2017
When asked why Senate Republicans are discussing the health-care bill behind closed doors, Spicer insisted it's because Democrats aren't interested in being part of the process. Democrats have repeatedly requested more transparency and called for open committee hearings on the bill.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who with his aides is entirely writing the bill, said Tuesday that he expects to have a "discussion draft" of the bill by Thursday and a score from the Congressional Budget Office by next week. Becca Stanek