Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said he is concerned about a "breach of trust" committed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell over a detail in the healthcare bill.
Johnson spoke on Capitol Hill Monday and said McConnell's comment last week regarding Medicaid changes in the Better Care Reconciliation Act, the Senate's GOP's piece of healthcare legislation, were misleading and wrong.
"The reported comments from Leader McConnell before last Thursday about 'don't worry about these Medicaid changes, they won't take effect,' that's troubling to me," Johnson said, reports Politico. "I have talked to senators that basically confirmed that. I'll see what Leader McConnell says tomorrow.
"From my standpoint, it's a pretty serious breach of trust, those comments. I'm just troubled by those comments."
McConnell defended his remarks and retorted, "I prefer to speak for myself, and my view is that the Medicaid per capita cap with a responsible growth rate that is sustainable for taxpayers is the most important long-term reform in the bill. That is why it has been in each draft we have released."
Johnson, reports CNN, said a procedural vote to open up the healthcare bill for debate might be "in jeopardy" because of McConnell's comments.
"Last week I was strongly urging colleagues to vote [for a] motion to proceed [with a debate]," Johnson said. "I'm not doing that right now."
McConnell said over the weekend he will temporarily put healthcare legislation on hold while Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., recovers from surgery to remove a blood clot in his brain.
The GOP's healthcare bill was dealt a blow Monday night when Republican Sens. Jerry Moran and Mike Lee said they do not support it, which means there are now at least four Republican senators who oppose the bill.
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