As the Senate prepares to vote on a revised healthcare bill in the coming week, U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker have signaled their support for the legislation.

Corker's spokesperson Micah Johnson said in an email that he plans to support the motion to proceed to the legislation next week — even though he never got the "transparent" process he'd looked for from the Senate while crafting the legislation.

“I very much appreciate the way Senate leadership has taken input as they worked to craft this legislation,” Corker said in a statement. “As we debate the bill next week, every senator — on both sides of the aisle — will have the opportunity to offer amendments and have their voice heard. I am encouraged by the direction of the bill and am hopeful the final product will be one that works better for the American people than what is in place today.”

Alexander said that he's awaiting the Congressional Budget Office score before giving a final signal of approval, but seemed encouraged that his primary concern "helping the 162,000 low-income Tennesseans who currently have no help with their health insurance and the 350,000 Tennesseans who may not be able to buy insurance in the individual market next year" was met in the revised plan.

"Then, I’ll stay focused on how it affects Tennesseans as the bill next week goes to the Senate floor, where it will be subject to virtually unlimited amendments," Alexander said in a statement. "My goals for this bill have not changed since I laid them out in May: 1) rescuing the thousands of Tennesseans and millions of Americans who will be trapped in collapsing Affordable Care Act exchanges with few or even zero options for health insurance in 2018 unless Congress acts; 2) lowering premium costs, which have increased under the ACA law; 3) gradually giving states more flexibility on the Medicaid program, but do this in a way that does not pull the rug out from under people who rely on Medicaid; and 4) making sure those with pre-existing conditions have access to insurance.”

The revised plan still includes major cuts to Medicaid — though Alexander told Pith recently that it would not. If you can find a detailed explanation as to how it would lower premium costs, please pass along to Pith.