Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy (pictured) has continued to work with his colleague Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) even after Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) opposition to their health care proposal seemed to mark the end of the road. | John Shinkle/POLITICO Republicans continue Obamacare repeal work despite opposition

Some Senate Republicans are continuing to work on their last-minute Obamacare repeal plan, according to sources familiar with the matter, even as the odds of success appear impossibly long.

The GOP is considering pushing back the implementation date and tweaking funding formulas in a bid to win over Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), a White House official said. Neither moderate Republican has announced their opposition to a bill written by Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, though Collins is "leaning against" the bill.


"Tweaks are being made," the official said.

Cassidy, Graham and their allies on Capitol Hill and in the White House continued to work on tweaking their plan on Friday evening even after Sen. John McCain of Arizona dealt the bill an apparent death blow on Friday afternoon. A new version of the legislation could drop as soon as this weekend, those sources said.

McCain and Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky oppose the bill to block grant the federal health care program to the states, and Collins has been seen as unwinnable by GOP leaders. If Republicans can get Murkowski's support, the GOP's thinking goes, then perhaps Paul or Collins can also be convinced, according to one of the sources familiar with the debate.

As of Friday evening, Murkowski was uncommitted. Her spokeswoman said that "Nothing has changed."

"Right now Senator Murkowski is still focused on how the bill will impact Alaska, specifically. She’s continuing to gather data and is looking at the details of the bill to determine what’s best for her state," the spokeswoman said.

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Republican leaders seem to think Paul may be able to won over despite trashing the bill for a week, even though he said on Friday he "won't be bribed or bullied" and his office said he is still opposed.

Senate Republicans have until Sept. 30 to repeal Obamacare via a mere majority. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said this week it was the intention to hold a vote next week and has not commented since McCain came out in opposition. Graham, McCain's close friend, vowed to "press on."

Senate Republicans control only 52 seats and must keep 50 of their members in support of the bill to succeed. Collins could announce her opposition as soon as Sunday, when she is scheduled to appear on national television shows.

Spokesmen for Graham and Cassidy did not immediately comment. Both are also going on national TV Sunday.

President Donald Trump blasted McCain on Saturday, asserting he "let Arizona down." And Trump suggested that both Paul and Murkowski's vote could be won.

"I know Rand Paul and I think he may find a way to get there for the good of the Party!" Trump said. "Alaska had a 200% plus increase in premiums under ObamaCare, worst in the country. Deductibles high, people angry! Lisa M comes through."

This article tagged under: Obamacare