Sen. Lamar Alexander: No Bipartisan Deal on Obamacare Repair

Republican Senator Lamar Alexander said on Tuesday that he had failed to reach an agreement with Democrats on a bipartisan effort to stabilize Obamacare insurance markets.

In a statement, Alexander said he and Democratic Senator Patty Murray "have worked hard and in good faith, but have not found the necessary consensus among Republicans and Democrats to put a bill in the Senate leaders' hands that could be enacted."

Alexander and Murray had been working to protect the government payments made to insurers to help reduce medical expenses for low-income Americans enrolled in Obamacare. Alexander also wanted states to have more flexibility to design insurance plans under the program.

Murray disputed Alexander's characterization, alleging GOP leaders "decided to freeze this bipartisan approach."