Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday the Democrats would work with Republicans to craft healthcare legislation as long as they "back off repeal" regarding Obamacare.
"We said back off repeal, which would walk back many of these things completely or by degree, and we'll work with you to fix it," the New York Democrat told Jake Tapper on CNN. "They still haven't gotten up to the first stage.
"Until they back off repeal, there's really nothing we can talk about," he said.
The Senate has begun work in its own healthcare bill after the House narrowly passed the American Health Care Act 217-213 on Thursday.
Republicans have created a 13-member working group to draft the legislation.
Schumer and other Democrats sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other GOP leaders Tuesday after they were slammed by Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana for being "passive" on the issues that have resulted from Obamacare.
No House Democrats supported the AHCA last week – and Schumer on Tuesday accused Republicans of being "ideologically fervent against what we've done in healthcare.
"They are trying to undo it – and that's not going to work because the American people, every poll shows, are in charge.
"We've said to him: 'Stop undoing things. Stop hurting people's healthcare. Get off repeal, and we will work with you,'" he told Tapper.
"They have made this promise in their campaign – and, so, ideologically they feel they have to go for repeal.
"But it hurts the American people, and frankly it's hurting them."
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