Watch Replay: Sean Spicer Defends Administration On Health Care, Wiretapping Probe

WASHINGTON, DC — White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer delivered a televised briefing with reporters Thursday afternoon, discussing the American Health Care Act, Judge Neil Gorsuch's nomination and continued investigations into Russia and the Trump campaign.

With the Republicans' plan to bring their Obamacare alternative to a House vote later in the day, health care is the dominant issue in Washington, D.C. But a late-night report on CNN suggesting that the FBI has evidence that may tie President Trump's associates to Russia's election-related hacking also raised more questions that Spicer would probably rather not answer.

(For more information on this and other political stories, subscribe to the White House Patch for daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. For more about the American Health Care Act, read: 7 Things To Know About Thursday's House Health Care Vote.)

Just ahead of the briefing, Rep. Mark Meadows, chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, told reporters the health care bill is unlikely to pass Thursday.

"There are not enough votes as of 1:30 today," he said.

But in his opening remarks, Spicer repeated confident pronouncements about the coming vote in the House of Representatives. He said that the administration continues to see lawmakers decide to vote for the bill.

"We're focused on getting it done and winning," he said.

Spicer also called on Sen. Chuck Schumer to back down from his comments that threaten a filibuster over Gorsuch's nomination. Asked whether the White House would take a position on whether or not the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees should be ended, Spicer said he would leave that decision to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Spicer was asked about potential changes to "essential health benefits," a provision of the law that requires insurers to cover a defined list of health care services, including emergency care, maternity care, prescription drugs and mental health care. Spicer said that lawmakers are working to potentially adjust this aspect of the law, which could potentially lower premiums. However, it may also have the effect of creating less generous and misleading plans that do not cover everything patients need.

"People should buy what they want, and what's appropriate for them and their family," Spicer said.

Spicer also dismissed more questions about the Russian ties to Trump associates. "You don't have anything concrete," he said, referring to CNN reports.

Watch a live stream of the proceedings below.

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Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images News/Getty Images