Donald Trump

Speaker Ryan Spurns Health Care Talks With Democrats

The statement quickly earned a rebuke from a senior member of his own party

House Speaker Paul Ryan doesn't want to see President Donald Trump negotiate with Democrats on health care, he said Thursday morning. But he warned that will be the result if House Republicans can't come together and pass their bill.

Ryan told "CBS This Morning" that if Trump works with Democrats, they will "try and change Obamacare and that's not, that's hardly a conservative thing."

Ryan insisted he's still trying to get the bill passed despite its collapse last week short of votes. The legislation was supposed to make good on seven years of GOP promises to repeal and replace President Barack Obama's health law.

Yet there's little evidence that Ryan or other leaders are working seriously to revive the legislation as they move on to other issues like a tax overhaul.

The statement quickly earned a rebuke from a senior member of his own party. Sen. Bob Corker, R-SC, tweeted Thursday morning, "We have come a long way in our country when the speaker of one party urges a president NOT to work with the other party to solve a problem."

Ryan explained his thinking later at a news conference, saying Republicans have a long history of working with democrats but "They are not going to help us repeal 'Obamacare.'"

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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