WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Noting that time is running out for Republicans to repeal and replace Obamacare, Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has urged President Donald Trump to focus on healthcare legislation rather than striking a deal with Democrats on immigration.
In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Graham noted Republican senators only have until the end of the month to repeal and replace Obamacare with a simple majority.
'President Trump needs to be as committed to repealing Obamacare as President Obama was in passing it,' Graham said. 'Mitch McConnell needs to be as committed to repealing Obamacare as Harry Reid was to passing Obamacare.'
'I know there's a lot of fight left in the Republican Party,' he added. 'Is there any fight left in Republicans on Capitol Hill? I believe there is, and I'm going to do everything I can to have a vote on repealing and replacing Obamacare.'
Graham and Senator Bill Cassidy, R-La., recently unveiled legislation that repeals the structure and architecture of Obamacare and replaces it with block grants to states to help individuals pay for healthcare.
The comments from Graham come after Trump met with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on Wednesday to discuss the rescinded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
Trump suggested in comments on Thursday that an agreement to enshrine the protections of DACA into law in an exchange for a border security package was 'fairly close.'
'Border security for DACA kids, legal status, makes plenty of sense,' Graham said. 'I applaud the president wanting to try to fix this problem.'
He added, 'But here's what I tell the president. We've got six months to deal with the DREAM Act kids. You've got 17 days to repeal and replace Obamacare.'
(Photo: Gage Skidmore)
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