GOP resistance grows to ObamaCare repeal without replacement

Cotton said Thursday that “when we repeal ObamaCare, we need to have the solution in place moving forward,” a warning against pushing a replacement far into the future. But his spokeswoman was clear on Friday: Cotton, she said, “will be voting in favor of repeal.”

Republicans said privately they’re most worried about Paul. The Kentucky Republican and 2016 presidential candidate voted against a procedural budget measure this week to protest that Republicans aren’t doing enough to cut the federal deficit. That was seen as a shot across the bow, since the budget is the tool Republicans will use to repeal Obamacare with a simple majority.

Paul then huddled with House conservatives to get them to join his push to simultaneously repeal and replace Obamacare. But when pressed, Paul said he’s likely to go along with his party.

“I will vote no on the budget, (but) in all likelihood, I will vote for the repeal. I am working very hard in my committee and in my caucus to say that we should simultaneously vote on replacement,” Paul said. “I think if you do repeal alone, the disaster continues to unfold.”