Rep. Tom Cole said Monday he doesn’t think there will be a government shutdown, but he also doesn’t think Republicans will vote on health care this week.
“No, I don’t think we’ll have a shutdown,” Mr. Cole, Oklahoma Republican, said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “We’re within striking distance of getting this done.”
He said last-minute additions from the parties’ extreme wings can’t be part of the bill that needs bipartisan support.
“In the end, to fund the government because of the 60-rule requirement in the Senate, you really do have to have bipartisan cooperation,” Mr. Cole said. “Anybody who doesn’t realize that and tries to impose a 100 percent partisan victory is going to fail.”
Mr. Cole said that includes the border wall funding.
“We can come back and get this at another point,” he said, adding that shutting down the government for funding the wall isn’t worth it.
On health care, Mr. Cole said members have not had a chance to review the new elements of the bill negotiated over the recess, so it’s unlikely Republicans will get it out of the House this week.
“We have an outside shot at that, but it’s only an outside shot. The members haven’t had a chance to see the negotiated agreement between elements of the Tuesday Group and the Freedom Caucus,” he said.
The Tuesday Group is a moderate wing of House Republicans in contrast to the Freedom Group’s more conservative ties. The two groups were at odds over the GOP’s original health bill over whether it went far enough in repealing some of the Obamacare regulations, but making sure those with pre-existing conditions were still protected.
• Sally Persons can be reached at spersons@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.