Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y., admitted to not reading the entire text of the bill passed by the House on Thursday that would partially repeal and replace Obamacare.

Collins, a centrist from Upstate New York who was an early supporter of President Trump, was asked directly about it during an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer hours after the bill was narrowly passed. "Did you actually sit down and read the entire bill, plus all of the amendments?" Wolf asked.

Rep. Collins admits he wasn't able to read entire health care bill, had to rely on staff https://t.co/zRo2v1kf3A https://t.co/J407bdyT8k— The Situation Room (@CNNSitRoom) May 4, 2017



"I will fully admit, Wolf, I did not," Collins replied but assured the host that his staff did.

"We have to rely on our staff. I had many meetings with energy and commerce with the chairman of energy and commerce as we discussed how this plan will affect Americans," he added before saying he's "very comfortable that we've got a solution to the disaster called Obamacare."

Blitzer followed up, noting that "this legislation affects a fifth of the U.S. economy and millions and millions of Americans."

"Don't you think it was important to actually sit down and read — read the language of this bill?" he asked.

Collins asserted that he fully understands the bill, despite not having read it, because he was briefed by his staff.

"You know, I have to rely on my staff and I can probably tell you that I read every word and I wouldn't be telling you the truth nor would any other member," Collins said. "We rely on our staff and we rely on our committees and I'm comfortable that I understand this bill in its entirety, wolf, without pouring through every word and I'm just being quite honest. That's the way it is."

Appearing after Collins, Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., told Wolf he also did not read the bill he opposes and had his staff do it.