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Republicans delay vote on healthcare bill in major setback for Trump's Obamacare repeal Republicans delay vote on healthcare bill in major setback for Trump's Obamacare repeal
(35 minutes later)
Facing growing opposition from members of his own party, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has delayed the vote on the Republicans' healthcare bill until after Congress's Fourth of July recess. Facing growing opposition from members of his own party, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has delayed the vote on the Republicans' healthcare bill until after Congress's Fourth of July recess. 
The schedule change is another setback for Donald Trump's effort to repeal and replace Obamacare – officially known as the Affordable Care Act, which he has repeatedly referred to as "dead".  The schedule change is another setback for Donald Trump's effort to repeal and replace Obamacare – officially known as the Affordable Care Act, which he has repeatedly referred to as "dead". 
Mr McConnell had been struggling to appease different wings of the Republican party. When he postponed the vote, at least five senators had suggested that they would vote against the motion to begin debate on the bill, which was originally scheduled to hit the Senate floor on Wednesday. Mr McConnell had been struggling to appease different wings of the Republican party. When he postponed the vote, at least five senators had suggested that they would vote against the motion to begin debate on the bill, which was originally scheduled to hit the Senate floor on Wednesday.
The defectors included centrist Susan Collins of Maine, moderate Dean Heller of Nevada, and conservatives Rand Paul of Kentucky, Mike Lee of Utah and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin. The defectors included centrist Susan Collins of Maine, moderate Dean Heller of Nevada, and conservatives Rand Paul of Kentucky, Mike Lee of Utah and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin. 
When asked by a reporter about what it would it would mean for the healthcare bill to stall on the motion to proceed, Ms Collins responded, "I hope it would mean that we will go back to the drawing board, work in a bipartisan fashion to correct the very real problems that do exist with the Affordable Care Act."  With a majority of 52 senators, Mr McConnell can only afford to lose two votes on both the motion to begin formally considering the bill – known as the motion to proceed – as well as on the bill itself. In the event of a 50-50 tie, Vice President Mike Pence will cast the deciding vote. 
Senate Republican leadership, who unveiled their healthcare measure on Thursday, had been pushing for a vote on the measure by the end of the week.  When asked by a reporter about what it would it would mean for the healthcare bill to stall on the motion to proceed, Ms Collins responded, "I hope it would mean that we will go back to the drawing board, work in a bipartisan fashion to correct the very real problems that do exist with the Affordable Care Act." 
Senate Republican leadership, who unveiled their healthcare measure on Thursday, had been pushing for a vote on the measure by the end of the week. 
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