Sen. Murkowski: Votes aren’t in Senate to repeal healthcare

In an interview in Alaska's KTVA-TV on Thursday, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) urged her party’s leadership to lay aside the repeal of Democrats' healthcare law and focus on building the economy. 

“I don’t believe that there are votes sufficient in the Senate to repeal healthcare reform," said Murkowski. “The real question is, how much time do we as a Congress spend on this messaging?”

Murkowski’s statement signifies a break with her party’s leadership. Friday, after the House voted to repeal the healthcare law, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he would push for a Senate vote on the legislation.

“The Democratic leadership in the Senate doesn’t want to vote on this bill,” McConnell said. “But I assure you, we will.”

Some Republicans, including Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), have suggested the party has the votes to repeal the bill in the Senate.