Obamacare deal hits the skids in Senate

A bipartisan deal to fund Obamacare payments stalled in the Senate Wednesday after President Trump derided the payments as "bailouts," but Republicans behind the package are trying to keep the deal alive.

In addition to Trump, who tweeted that he opposes the agreement Wednesday morning, members of Senate leadership on Wednesday cast skepticism about the deal brokered by Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Patty Murray, D-Wash., to fund the insurer payments for two years in exchange for changes to the law.

"We are kind of in a holding pattern right now until there is some kind of a breakthrough between the president and Sen. Alexander," said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., the third-ranking Republican senator. "That could happen sooner, but it also could be a December issue."

He said the deal could be included in an omnibus spending deal that must be passed to prevent a government shutdown in December, or it could be included in another must-pass vehicle sooner if President Trump jumps on board.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, the number two ranking senator, applauded the effort of Alexander and Murray but said, "I think this is the beginning of a longer conversation. Until the president is on board, yes, probably some changes need to be made to satisfy the president."