Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Friday that she thinks the Democrats have the votes to permanently stop the Republican health care bill in the Senate, noting "we're very close to defeating it."
The Republicans can stand to lose only two votes from their own party, and nine Republicans signaled their opposition before leaving Washington for the July 4 recess.
Feinstein expressed her vote of confidence in front of doctors, nurses and other health care staff at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in San Francisco.
“We're very close to defeating it. We're very close. Mitch McConnell, the leader, hasn’t brought it to the floor,” she said. “My sense is he won’t until he has the votes, and my sense is that he’s not going to have the votes.”
Feinstein said the Congressional Budget Office’s estimate that 22 million Americans would lose their insurance under the bill ensures it will never pass.