Trump says open to temporary healthcare reform deal with Democrats
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -  U.S. President Donald Trump  said on Saturday  he  would be open to cutting a one-year or two-year deal with Democratic rivals as a way to kick-start reform of the nationâs healthcare system  a key campaign pledge made by  Trump  and the Republican Party.
 Trump  has been frustrated by the failure  openly taunting Republicans as âtotal quittersâ and âfoolsâ this summer over their inability in the Senate to replace Obamacare.
âIf we made a temporary deal  I think it would be a great thing for people  but itâs really up to them (Democrats) â  Trump  told reporters at the White House.
âSo if we could do a one-year deal or two-year deal as a temporary measure  youâll have block granting ultimately to the states  which is what Republicans want â  Trump  said.
Earlier on Saturday  Trump  said  he  had called Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer to gauge interest in working on what  he  called a âgreatâ healthcare bill to replace Obamacare.
âI called Chuck Schumer yesterday to see if the Dems want to do a great HealthCare Bill â  Trump  wrote on Twitter earlier on Saturday. âObamaCare is badly broken  big premiums. Who knows!â
Axios first reported Trumpâs call to Schumer on Friday.
 U.S. President Donald Trump  talks to the media on South Lawn of the White House in Washington before  his  departure to Greensboro  North Carolina  U.S.  October 7  2017. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas
Schumer said  Trump  had told him during the phone call on Friday that he wanted to try again to repeal and replace Obamacare.
âI told  the president  thatâs off the table â Schumer said in a statement. âIf he wants to work together to improve the existing health care system  we Democrats are open to his suggestions.â
Alexander pulled out of  the talks  last month as a new Republican bill to repeal Obamacare gained momentum. After that bill collapsed  Alexander said he would again consult with Murray.
Although Democrats have been mostly united against Trumpâs agenda  there is a precedent for a bipartisan deal. Last month   Trump  sided with Democrats in a surprising debt limit deal that blindsided Republicans and left conservative groups aghast.
But there are still wide policy differences between Democrats and  Trump .  His  administration on Friday undermined requirements under Obamacare that employers provide insurance to cover womenâs birth control.
A Democratic aide said  the Trump administration  would have to abandon such efforts before  it  could reach a healthcare deal with Republicans.
âParticularly after the birth control decision yesterday   the administration  has to stop sabotaging the law before anything real can happen â the aide said on condition of anonymity.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -   [TGT] said on Saturday   [TGT]   would be open to cutting a one-year or two-year deal with Democratic rivals as a way to kick-start reform of the nationâs healthcare system  a key campaign pledge made by  Trump  and the Republican Party.
  [TGT] has been frustrated by the failure  openly taunting Republicans as âtotal quittersâ and âfoolsâ this summer over their inability in the Senate to replace Obamacare.
âIf we made a temporary deal  I think it would be a great thing for people  but itâs really up to them (Democrats) â   [TGT] told reporters at the White House.
âSo if we could do a one-year deal or two-year deal as a temporary measure  youâll have block granting ultimately to the states  which is what Republicans want â   [TGT] said.
Earlier on Saturday   [TGT] said   [TGT]   had called Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer to gauge interest in working on what   [TGT]   called a âgreatâ healthcare bill to replace Obamacare.
âI called Chuck Schumer yesterday to see if the Dems want to do a great HealthCare Bill â   [TGT] wrote on Twitter earlier on Saturday. âObamaCare is badly broken  big premiums. Who knows!â
Axios first reported Trumpâs call to Schumer on Friday.
  [TGT] talks to the media on South Lawn of the White House in Washington before   [TGT]   departure to Greensboro  North Carolina  U.S.  October 7  2017. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas
Schumer said   [TGT] had told him during the phone call on Friday that he wanted to try again to repeal and replace Obamacare.
âI told  the president  thatâs off the table â Schumer said in a statement. âIf he wants to work together to improve the existing health care system  we Democrats are open to his suggestions.â
Alexander pulled out of  the talks  last month as a new Republican bill to repeal Obamacare gained momentum. After that bill collapsed  Alexander said he would again consult with Murray.
Although Democrats have been mostly united against Trumpâs agenda  there is a precedent for a bipartisan deal. Last month    [TGT] sided with Democrats in a surprising debt limit deal that blindsided Republicans and left conservative groups aghast.
But there are still wide policy differences between Democrats and  Trump .  His  administration on Friday undermined requirements under Obamacare that employers provide insurance to cover womenâs birth control.
A Democratic aide said   [TGT] would have to abandon such efforts before   [TGT]   could reach a healthcare deal with Republicans.
âParticularly after the birth control decision yesterday    [TGT] has to stop sabotaging the law before anything real can happen â the aide said on condition of anonymity.