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Senate Republicans unveil healthcare bill Senate Republicans unveil healthcare bill
(35 minutes later)
Senate Republicans have unveiled a plan to overhaul the US healthcare system, including drastic cuts to a government health programme for the poor.Senate Republicans have unveiled a plan to overhaul the US healthcare system, including drastic cuts to a government health programme for the poor.
The 142-page "discussion draft" repeals most of President Barack Obama's signature health law.The 142-page "discussion draft" repeals most of President Barack Obama's signature health law.
The Senate plan drops a requirement for individuals to have health insurance and eliminates taxes on the wealthy.The Senate plan drops a requirement for individuals to have health insurance and eliminates taxes on the wealthy.
Republicans, who released the bill after weeks of behind-closed-door talks, need 50 votes to pass it.Republicans, who released the bill after weeks of behind-closed-door talks, need 50 votes to pass it.
That means they can only afford to have two Republican rebels voting against it when it comes to the floor next week. No Democrats are expected to back it.
Repealing Mr Obama's law, called the Affordable Care Act but also known as Obamacare, was a central promise of Republicans throughout his presidency.
Senators wrote their own version after their colleagues in the House of Representatives passed Obamacare repeal legislation six weeks ago.
The legislation affects tens of millions of Americans and a fifth of the US economy.The legislation affects tens of millions of Americans and a fifth of the US economy.
What's in the Senate bill?What's in the Senate bill?
Senate Majority Mitch McConnell, who crafted most of the plan, presented the Better Care Reconciliation Act Of 2017 to the upper chamber on Thursday.Senate Majority Mitch McConnell, who crafted most of the plan, presented the Better Care Reconciliation Act Of 2017 to the upper chamber on Thursday.
The bill mostly aligns with a measure passed by the House of Representatives last month, but ties federal subsidies for individuals based on their income rather than age. "Republicans believe we have a responsibility to act - and we are," Mr McConnell said in a speech on the Senate floor.
The bill mostly aligns with a measure passed by the House last month, but ties federal subsidies for individuals based on their income rather than age - as the Affordable Care Act currently does.
It would make it more difficult for recipients to qualify for those subsidies, however, by implementing more restrictions on income requirements.It would make it more difficult for recipients to qualify for those subsidies, however, by implementing more restrictions on income requirements.
The Senate bill phases out the expansion of Medicare - much like the House bill - but does so more gradually. Critics of the House bill, which tied the subsidies to age, say it unfairly penalised older Americans.
The Senate plan phases out the expansion of Medicaid, a government health programme for the low-income Americans, more gradually than the House bill.
But it would impose deeper long-term cuts to the programme.
Details of the draft also include:Details of the draft also include:
Are any Republicans objecting?
Senator McConnell expects the bill to come to the Senate floor as early as next week, when the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office releases the plan's estimated cost and impact on Americans.Senator McConnell expects the bill to come to the Senate floor as early as next week, when the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office releases the plan's estimated cost and impact on Americans.
Repealing Mr Obama's law, called the Affordable Care Act but also known as Obamacare, was a central promise of Republicans throughout his presidency. The Republican leadership needs 50 votes to pass its health plan in the Senate. With a slender 52-48 majority, the party cannot afford many defections.
But many have expressed concern over both the House and Senate bills to overhaul the system.
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul has already been critical of the plan.
"I think the death spiral of Obamacare continues," he said. "The Republican plan doesn't fix that; the Republican plan just subsidises it."
Asked whether he has seen the bill, Arizona Republican John McCain said on Tuesday: "No, nor have I met any American that has.
"I'm sure the Russians have been able to hack in and gotten most of it."
Democrats stand firmly against it and are expected to ask for more time to review the measure.