White House official boasts they’ll ‘bribe moderates with opioid money’ to pass Trumpcare: report

The Republican plan to repeal and replace Obamacare hit some major setbacks this week -- but at least one Trump administration official isn't too worried.

In an interview with Axios reporter Jonathan Swan, an unnamed White House official literally says the GOP's plan involves "bribing" moderate senators by throwing more cash at opioid addiction treatment.

"I think we're going to pass this," the source said. "I really think they'll bribe off the moderates with opioid money and then actually move policy to shore up Mike Lee and Ted Cruz."

The proposed Senate GOP bill has offered a mere $2 billion for combating the opioid crisis, and it would slash funding for Medicaid, which is the largest payer for addiction services in the United States.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), who came out against the Senate's bill this week, has requested $45 billion over ten years to help combat opioid abuse, although she has also expressed skepticism about the GOP bill's deep cuts to Medicaid and its phase out of the Medicaid expansion.

Because of this, another GOP source tells Swan that it will likely be too difficult to get the GOP Senate bill across the finish line, no matter how much money is thrown at the opioid crisis.

"I think the gap is too wide and they are getting zero help from POTUS," the source said. "Unpopular presidents pushing unpopular proposals usually fail."