washington u.s. senate majority leader mitch mcconnell say wednesday yet know republicans amass vote need pass legislation craft dismantle obamacare express optimism another top priority overhaul tax code exclusive interview reuters mcconnell say healthcare tax still top republican legislative agenda add reach minority democrats either one differences two party stark mcconnell also say ask white house input senate devise healthcare legislation republican-led house representatives pass version may may future exclude democratic involvement leave mcconnell conservative 75-year-old kentuckian reputation dealmaker narrow path win passage ambitious goals also head republican president donald trump policy agenda repeal obamacare one trump lead campaign promise last year ask behind-the-scenes work among senate republicans hammer provision healthcare bill mcconnell say know get 50 vote moment goal exactly composition bill go speculate serve purpose mcconnell say republicans hold 52-48 senate majority event 50-50 tie republican vice president mike pence would call upon cast tie-breaking vote mcconnell open interview say whole lot news make healthcare decline discuss provision might want see bill provide timetable produce even draft show rank-and-file republican senators gauge support hand say prospect passage major tax legislation pretty good difficult mcconnell say view quite challenge healthcare trump fellow republicans congress want cut tax rat across board house proposal use tax code boost export discourage import split business community lawmakers house narrowly pass legislation overhaul healthcare system dismantle major part obamacare law formally call affordable care act democratic former president barack obama signature legislative achievement overcome unify opposition democrats wednesday non-partisan congressional budget office estimate house-passed bill would result 23 million people lose health insurance coverage 2026 sober figure senate republicans mull action cbo also say federal budget deficits would fall 119 billion 10 years bill ask get guidance white house healthcare legislation mcconnell say honestly ask tell president would point might well want vice president helpful mcconnell say trump pence could play important role come whip support whatever bill produce senate pass healthcare bill lawmakers would work differences house senate versions pass compromise bill could go trump signature republicans hold slim senate majority mcconnell likely need cooperation support hard-line conservative republicans senator ted cruz past difficult corral cruz member work group within senate charge craft senate obamacare repeal legislation grateful want help us get outcome mcconnell say republicans face tricky balance act expect democratic support razor-thin majority must devise legislation appeal conservative senators also drive many republican moderate since become law 2010 republicans rail obamacare argue expensive involve government deeply americans healthcare decisions say want replace program repeal obamacare tax reduce federal spend medicaid insurance program poor leave decisions state mcconnell past promise undo obamacare root branch republicans position control congress white house struggle come consensus plan republican leader compare effort solve rubik cube many senate republicans misgive house-passed legislation democrats say would deprive millions people insurance benefit wealthy roll back obamacare protections guarantee coverage people pre-existing condition mcconnell make clear senators write bill say work separate approach take republican-only approach healthcare tax mcconnell say democrats interest interest do mcconnell express optimism two party band together pass legislation fund federal government fiscal year start oct. 1. also note good prospect bipartisanship bill expand sanction iran due debate senate foreign relations committee week renewal food drug administration user-fee program expire late year exclusive mcconnell fret healthcare hopeful tax overhaul