Sen. Lindsey Graham said Tuesday that Republicans were "coming back" to the legislation he co-sponsored to repeal Obamacare after Sen. Susan Collins effectively killed the bill after saying that she could not support it.
"We're coming back to this after taxes," the South Carolina Republican told reporters at the Capitol. "We're going to have time to explain our concept.
"We'll have a better process — and we're gonna take this show on the road."
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell pulled a planned vote on the legislation Graham co-sponsored with Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana before Saturday's deadline that would allow Democrats to block the bill.
Collins, who represents Maine, joined GOP Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Rand Paul of Kentucky in opposing the bill.
With a slim 52-48 majority, Republicans could afford to lose no more than two Senate votes on the bill.
"With a process that gives more attention and time, we will repeal and replace Obamacare," Graham told reporters.
"The missing ingredient for us Republicans is that, we know what we don't like. Obamacare is not working.
"We make that care effectively, but we've had a hard time articulating what we are for until now."
The senator also thanked President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for their efforts.
"To my Republican colleagues, we're going to fulfill our promise, to repeal and replace Obamacare.
"To the American people, we're going to improve healthcare for you, because in the end, that's the only promise that matters," Graham said.
McConnell said that the chamber would now turn its attention to tax reform.
"We haven't given up on it," the Kentucky senator said. "We do think it is time to turn to our twin priority, the tax code.
"We've reached significant agreement to go forward — and I'm optimistic that we'll achieve that."
Graham and Cassidy — along with the bill's other two co-sponsors, Sens. Dean Heller of Nevada and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin — later issued a statement on the vote being pulled.
"It's not a question of 'if' Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson replaces Obamacare," they said. "It's only a question of 'when.'
"It is just a matter of time until we fulfill our promise to repeal and replace Obamacare with something far better."
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