Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., blamed President Donald Trump's rescinded support of the Alexander-Murray bill on a lack of knowledge of the proposal, according to The Hill.
The bill, drafted by Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Patty Murray, D-Wash., would fund cost-sharing subsidies for two years while also providing states more flexibility with innovation waivers. President Trump initially praised the measure Tuesday afternoon before reversing course that evening during a speech to the conservative Heritage Foundation and later tweeting he could "never support" the bill.
Mr. Schumer believes this quick opinion shift represents President Trump's misunderstanding of the actions outlined in the bill.
"Frankly the president doesn't know what he's talking about in the compromise. ... The president ought to know what he's talking about when he tweets about bills. Because on this one he had no understanding of what it's about," Mr. Schumer said from the Senate floor, according to The Hill.
President Trump is not the only Republican to oppose the Alexander-Murray bill. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, stated Wednesday he could not support the bill because he doesn't agree with its temporary nature, according to The Register-Herald.
Senate Democrats are expected to support the bill, but Sens. Alexander and Murray may struggle to find support from the 12 Republicans necessary to reach 60 votes, which would ensure the bill's passage.