Pat Toomey predicts Republicans will lose House, Senate without major legislative reform

Sen. Pat Toomey said Thursday that Republicans will face big loses in the 2018 midterms if they don’t pass either tax or health care reform.

“If we don’t get either health care reform, or tax reform done, then I think it’s very likely we lose the House and a very reasonable chance we lose the Senate, too,” Mr. Toomey, Pennsylvania Republican, said on “The Hugh Hewitt Show.”

“People are going to just really, really question whether Republicans can govern, and that’s a bad situation to be going into the midterm elections with,” he added.

Mr. Toomey said that although Republicans are “very close” on the votes to pass tax reform, some senators have already said they may not be able to support the bill. He said he is working with those members, like Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, who are on the fence about certain aspects of the plan. Mr. Toomey said he’s had “extensive conversations” with Mr. Johnson about his concerns and that the bill has changed in the past day or two to address such concerns.

Mr. Toomey acknowledged the bill isn’t “perfect” but argued it’s an improvement on the current system.

“What it is going to be is much, much better than what we have now — vastly better than what we have now,” he said.

The House is expected to vote on its version of the bill Thursday while the Senate finalizes details of its plan.