This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jul/25/healthcare-senate-republicans-healthcare-obamacare-vote-passes
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Senate Republicans vote to open debate on repealing and replacing Obamacare | Senate Republicans vote to open debate on repealing and replacing Obamacare |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Senate Republicans took a tentative step toward fulfilling seven years of promises to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on Tuesday, which they achieved only after the dramatic return of Senator John McCain, who was diagnosed last week with brain cancer. | Senate Republicans took a tentative step toward fulfilling seven years of promises to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on Tuesday, which they achieved only after the dramatic return of Senator John McCain, who was diagnosed last week with brain cancer. |
| The procedural vote, which passed without the support of a single Democrat, allows the Senate to open debate on repealing and replacing the ACA, popularly known as Obamacare, even though it remains unclear exactly what legislation they will be voting on. | The procedural vote, which passed without the support of a single Democrat, allows the Senate to open debate on repealing and replacing the ACA, popularly known as Obamacare, even though it remains unclear exactly what legislation they will be voting on. |
| Fifty Republicans voted yes and two – Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska – voted no. Vice president Mike Pence’s casting vote was required to pass the measure. | Fifty Republicans voted yes and two – Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska – voted no. Vice president Mike Pence’s casting vote was required to pass the measure. |
| The fact that a vote simply to open debate was seen as a victory for the Republicans is a measure of how difficult the GOP has found it to overhaul Barack Obama’s healthcare law, which extended health insurance to nearly 20 million more people. | The fact that a vote simply to open debate was seen as a victory for the Republicans is a measure of how difficult the GOP has found it to overhaul Barack Obama’s healthcare law, which extended health insurance to nearly 20 million more people. |
| After months of discussion, debate and negotiations, Senate Republicans will now probably be forced to choose between a number of unpalatable options, including: a discarded and possibly untenable plan to replace the 2010 healthcare law; a measure that repeals it without implementing a replacement; and a “skinny repeal” which would repeal pieces of the law. | After months of discussion, debate and negotiations, Senate Republicans will now probably be forced to choose between a number of unpalatable options, including: a discarded and possibly untenable plan to replace the 2010 healthcare law; a measure that repeals it without implementing a replacement; and a “skinny repeal” which would repeal pieces of the law. |
| None of the plans appeared to have enough support to pass despite senators voting to open debate on Tuesday. | None of the plans appeared to have enough support to pass despite senators voting to open debate on Tuesday. |
| A motion to proceed opens a chaotic process during which the Senate can consider numerous amendments to the bill, including complete replacements. During the process, senators will be forced to cast a number of contentious votes that could haunt tough re-election battles. | |
| As Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell called for the vote to begin, protesters inside the Senate gallery began shouting, “Kill the bill! Kill the bill!” followed by chants of “Shame!” as security escorted them outside the chamber. | As Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell called for the vote to begin, protesters inside the Senate gallery began shouting, “Kill the bill! Kill the bill!” followed by chants of “Shame!” as security escorted them outside the chamber. |
| Republicans and the president appeared to treat the motion to proceed as if it were the vote to repeal, pushing senators to simply open debate and let the rest fall into place later. Democrats will almost certainly portray a vote by their opponents to advance the bill as a vote in favor of the legislation, irrespective of whether a vote on repealing and/or replacing Obama’s health legislation ultimately succeeds. | Republicans and the president appeared to treat the motion to proceed as if it were the vote to repeal, pushing senators to simply open debate and let the rest fall into place later. Democrats will almost certainly portray a vote by their opponents to advance the bill as a vote in favor of the legislation, irrespective of whether a vote on repealing and/or replacing Obama’s health legislation ultimately succeeds. |
| Complicating the vote are a pair of analyses by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO). One estimate found that the latest draft of the Republican bill would leave 22 million more people uninsured compared to current law by 2026. If Republicans choose to repeal major provisions of the law without immediately replacing it, the CBO estimates that 32 million people will lose out in the same time period. | Complicating the vote are a pair of analyses by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO). One estimate found that the latest draft of the Republican bill would leave 22 million more people uninsured compared to current law by 2026. If Republicans choose to repeal major provisions of the law without immediately replacing it, the CBO estimates that 32 million people will lose out in the same time period. |
| Voters have pleaded with lawmakers not to repeal the ACA, inundating their office telephone lines and confronting them at town halls. Liberal groups have also ratcheted up the pressure with rallies, protests and acts of civil disobedience. | Voters have pleaded with lawmakers not to repeal the ACA, inundating their office telephone lines and confronting them at town halls. Liberal groups have also ratcheted up the pressure with rallies, protests and acts of civil disobedience. |
| Republicans are meanwhile contending with a marked shift among voters over the law and the role government should play in ensuring healthcare coverage. Opinion polls show growing support for the ACA, compared with dismal approval ratings for the replacement plan. | Republicans are meanwhile contending with a marked shift among voters over the law and the role government should play in ensuring healthcare coverage. Opinion polls show growing support for the ACA, compared with dismal approval ratings for the replacement plan. |
| But after years of promising to repeal the ACA, a popular position that helped fuel the rise of small-government conservatives, Republicans face a growing consensus that the government has a responsibility to guarantee healthcare. A survey by the Pew research center found that 60% of Americans believe the federal government should be responsible for ensuring healthcare coverage, compared with 38% who say this should not be the government’s responsibility. The share of people with this view grew from 51% last year and now stands at its highest point in nearly a decade, according to Pew. | But after years of promising to repeal the ACA, a popular position that helped fuel the rise of small-government conservatives, Republicans face a growing consensus that the government has a responsibility to guarantee healthcare. A survey by the Pew research center found that 60% of Americans believe the federal government should be responsible for ensuring healthcare coverage, compared with 38% who say this should not be the government’s responsibility. The share of people with this view grew from 51% last year and now stands at its highest point in nearly a decade, according to Pew. |
| Nearly 20 million people gained healthcare coverage under Obama’s Affordable Care Act. The law requires all Americans to have insurance or face a penalty and offered states funding incentives to expand Medicaid coverage for people with low-incomes. | Nearly 20 million people gained healthcare coverage under Obama’s Affordable Care Act. The law requires all Americans to have insurance or face a penalty and offered states funding incentives to expand Medicaid coverage for people with low-incomes. |
| Republicans are ideologically opposed to the involvement of the federal government in healthcare, and are especially aggrieved by the requirement that all Americans must purchase insurance. Some senators would like to see healthcare managed entirely by the states. | Republicans are ideologically opposed to the involvement of the federal government in healthcare, and are especially aggrieved by the requirement that all Americans must purchase insurance. Some senators would like to see healthcare managed entirely by the states. |
| But nearly 74 million people receive coverage through Medicaid, the joint federal and state funded insurance program for low-income people and its sister program CHIP, which covers low-income children. | But nearly 74 million people receive coverage through Medicaid, the joint federal and state funded insurance program for low-income people and its sister program CHIP, which covers low-income children. |
| Speaking on the Senate floor, McConnell said framed the healthcare debate as the opportunity Republicans had been awaiting for years. | Speaking on the Senate floor, McConnell said framed the healthcare debate as the opportunity Republicans had been awaiting for years. |
| “They didn’t send us here just to do the easy stuff,” the majority leader said of the voters who put Republicans in charge of Congress. “They sent us to tackle the big problems. | “They didn’t send us here just to do the easy stuff,” the majority leader said of the voters who put Republicans in charge of Congress. “They sent us to tackle the big problems. |
| “With a surprise election, comes great opportunities to do things we thought were never possible.” | “With a surprise election, comes great opportunities to do things we thought were never possible.” |
| McCain returned to the Senate, with his wife Cindy by his side, to a loud round of applause from lawmakers. The Arizona senator voted in favor of the motion to proceed, consistent with his prior statements on the issue. | McCain returned to the Senate, with his wife Cindy by his side, to a loud round of applause from lawmakers. The Arizona senator voted in favor of the motion to proceed, consistent with his prior statements on the issue. |
| Several key holdouts caved in the final moments leading up to the vote in a dramatic reversal from their previous reservations about the Republican strategy. | Several key holdouts caved in the final moments leading up to the vote in a dramatic reversal from their previous reservations about the Republican strategy. |
| Senator Dean Heller, who is facing a tough re-election battle in Nevada in 2018, was among the most stunning turnarounds. Just last month, the Republican publicly lambasted the proposal put forth by party leadership and said it was a “lie” that the plan would lower premiums. Heller said he still had concerns about the legislation proposed thus far and would only support a final product if it addressed his needs, such as protecting the Medicaid program. | Senator Dean Heller, who is facing a tough re-election battle in Nevada in 2018, was among the most stunning turnarounds. Just last month, the Republican publicly lambasted the proposal put forth by party leadership and said it was a “lie” that the plan would lower premiums. Heller said he still had concerns about the legislation proposed thus far and would only support a final product if it addressed his needs, such as protecting the Medicaid program. |
| “If the final product isn’t improved for the state of Nevada, then I will not vote for it; if it is improved, I will support it,” Heller said. | “If the final product isn’t improved for the state of Nevada, then I will not vote for it; if it is improved, I will support it,” Heller said. |
| Similar statements came from other Senate Republicans who had previously opposed the party’s direction on healthcare. Senators Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Rob Portman of Ohio, Jerry Moran of Kansas and Mike Lee of Utah all cast votes in favor of advancing to a debate, while expressing their hope that negotiations would lead to a better outcome. | Similar statements came from other Senate Republicans who had previously opposed the party’s direction on healthcare. Senators Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Rob Portman of Ohio, Jerry Moran of Kansas and Mike Lee of Utah all cast votes in favor of advancing to a debate, while expressing their hope that negotiations would lead to a better outcome. |
| Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, another swing vote, was among the last to vote for moving forward. Johnson, who has publicly criticized McConnell in recent weeks, could be seen having a lengthy exchange with the majority leader on the Senate floor. Although he bristled to reporters in the hallway about the process, the senator nonetheless fell in line with the rest of his party. | Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, another swing vote, was among the last to vote for moving forward. Johnson, who has publicly criticized McConnell in recent weeks, could be seen having a lengthy exchange with the majority leader on the Senate floor. Although he bristled to reporters in the hallway about the process, the senator nonetheless fell in line with the rest of his party. |