Sen. Lindsey GrahamLindsey GrahamRand Paul spokesman: Lindsey Graham doesn't speak for us McConnell: Senate will move ObamaCare repeal bill in 'near future' Graham: Rand Paul is 'irretrievably gone' on healthcare MORE (R-S.C.) said Tuesday that the GOP has already suffered a key defection on its healthcare reform bill and it may make sense to move past the issue sooner instead of later.
“We’re stuck. We can’t get there from here,” Graham told reporters. “I’m very leery of a healthcare bill passing the Senate that can get through the House. We’ve already lost Rand PaulRand PaulRand Paul spokesman: Lindsey Graham doesn't speak for us Graham: Rand Paul is 'irretrievably gone' on healthcare Graham: GOP ObamaCare repeal likely to fail MORE, so we’re down to 51.”
Graham said Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is “irretrievably gone,” meaning GOP leaders can only afford one more defection and still pass legislation repealing and replacing ObamaCare.
“While we do have a press assistant opening in the Communications Department, Senator Graham has not applied and should not make public statements on behalf of Senator Rand Paul,” Paul spokesman Sergio Gor said in a statement, however. “Senator Paul remains optimistic the bill can be improved in the days ahead and is keeping an open mind.”
Republicans control 52 seats in the Senate, and Vice President Mike PenceMike (Michael) Richard PenceGraham: Rand Paul is 'irretrievably gone' on healthcare Karen Pence, Agriculture secretary install beehive at VP's residence Pence on NATO: 'Our commitment is unwavering' MORE can break a 50-50 tie, but three GOP no votes would spell the end of the legislation.
Graham is the latest Republican senator to publicly express doubt over the Senate’s ability to pass a healthcare reform bill that has any chance of later passing the House and becoming law.
There’s growing concern within the GOP conference that they will end up spending too much time on a healthcare debate that goes nowhere and will then have less chance of overhauling the tax code, another top priority.
Graham said if the Congressional Budget Office score for the Senate healthcare bill is as negative as its analysis for the House-passed measure, “we’re in trouble.”
“We need to bring this to an end and move to taxes,” he said. “A lot of the blame is on the Congress here.”
Sen. Richard BurrRichard BurrFlynn hands over more than 600 pages of documents to Senate Intel: report Graham: Rand Paul is 'irretrievably gone' on healthcare Lindsey Graham: I don’t think GOP can pass healthcare bill this year MORE (R-N.C.), one of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Mitch McConnellRand Paul spokesman: Lindsey Graham doesn't speak for us McCain to question Comey at intel hearing: report McConnell: Senate will move ObamaCare repeal bill in 'near future' MORE’s (R-Ky.) closest allies in the Senate GOP conference, last week said he did not think the Senate would be able to pass a comprehensive healthcare reform bill this year.
“I think it’s unlikely we will get a healthcare bill,” Burr told a local television station, calling the House bill “dead on arrival” and “not a good plan.”
McConnell told Reuters last month that he does not yet know how he will find 50 votes to pass a healthcare overhaul, a comment that was interpreted among Senate Republicans as lowering expectations for a legislative victory.
Graham said on Tuesday Republicans should “let ObamaCare collapse” and then work with Democrats to “find a better solution.”
He added that the GOP should move quickly to taxes.
“On taxes, that needs to be the next agenda item. We need to do it in calendar year 2017,” he said.
--Jordain Carney contributed to this report, which was updated at 3:22 p.m.