The GOP governors could give cover to senators who oppose the bill, but they could also make it more difficult for a Republican senator to stake out a dissenting position.
Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) announced his opposition to the Senate bill at a press conference where he stood side by side with Gov. Brian Sandoval (R), highlighting the issue.
Sandoval has been protective of his state’s Medicaid expansion, and Heller — seen as the most vulnerable senator up for reelection next year — raised doubts about whether he could support any phase-out of federal funds for Medicaid expansion.
“It’s going to be very difficult to get me to a yes,” Heller said. “You have to protect Medicaid expansion states. That’s what I want.”
The mounting criticism from GOP governors may be enough to convince some Republicans to kill the Senate’s ObamaCare repeal legislation. So far, nine GOP senators oppose the bill, which leaves Republicans with a steep climb to get the measure through the Senate.
With a slim 52-48 majority in the upper chamber, GOP leaders can only afford to lose two votes, assuming Vice President Pence breaks a tie.
