The Interior Department’s Office of Inspector General is undertaking a preliminary investigation into phone calls made by Secretary Ryan Zinke to Alaska’s Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, warning them that that they could lose their standing with the Trump administration in light of Murkowski’s vote against repealing the Affordable Care Act.
Along with Murkowski, Republican Sens. John McCain of Maine and Susan Collins of Maine voted to stop the repeal.
Murkowski claimed that on the call, Zinke — whose role at the Interior does not include healthcare issues — warned her, “the President is really disappointed in what he perceives to be as your lack of support for healthcare reform,” says CNN. She called the interaction “not a very pleasant call.”
Sullivan, who voted in favor of repealing ACA, said he feared reprisals against his state due to Murkoswki. “I’m not going to go into the details, but I fear that the strong economic growth, pro-energy, pro-mining, pro-jobs and personnel from Alaska who are part of those policies are going to stop,” said Sullivan.
Murkowski said she voted no against the repeal and ultimately against every GOP replace plan, because none of them served the people of her state better than Obamacare. “I hear from fishermen who can’t afford the coverage that they have, small business owners who can’t afford insurance at all, and those who have gained coverage for the first time in their life,” she said, according to Business Insider. “These Alaskans have shared their anxiety that their personal situation may be made worse under the legislation considered this week.”