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Republicans oppose healthcare plans leaving party without majority | Republicans oppose healthcare plans leaving party without majority |
(35 minutes later) | |
Two more Republican senators say they oppose their party's replacement for President Obama's health reforms, leaving leaders short of a majority. | Two more Republican senators say they oppose their party's replacement for President Obama's health reforms, leaving leaders short of a majority. |
Mike Lee and Jerry Moran both announced they could not support the bill in its current form. | Mike Lee and Jerry Moran both announced they could not support the bill in its current form. |
Republicans hold 52 seats in the 100-member Senate, and with two other Republicans already against the bill they could not afford more desertions. | Republicans hold 52 seats in the 100-member Senate, and with two other Republicans already against the bill they could not afford more desertions. |
President Donald Trump made repealing Obamacare a key campaign pledge. | President Donald Trump made repealing Obamacare a key campaign pledge. |
The current plan retains key Obamacare taxes on the wealthy, while allowing insurers to offer less coverage and imposing sharp cuts to healthcare for the poor. | The current plan retains key Obamacare taxes on the wealthy, while allowing insurers to offer less coverage and imposing sharp cuts to healthcare for the poor. |
Moderates worried about the effects on the most vulnerable, while conservatives defended the dismantling of Obamacare. | |
The two senators simultaneously announced their opposition to the planned reforms. | The two senators simultaneously announced their opposition to the planned reforms. |
While saying there were "serious problems" with the Affordable Care Act, Mr Moran said "we should not put our stamp of approval on bad policy". | |
For Mr Lee, "in addition to not repealing all of the Obamacare taxes [the bill] doesn't go far enough in lowering premiums for middle class families; nor does it create enough free space from the most costly Obamacare regulations." | |
Republican leaders and the White House were now left with just a few options: try to rewrite the plan, engage in a bipartisan effort to address the flaws recognised by both parties or abandon it altogether and focus on other key issues, such as tax reform. | |
But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he would try to pass a repeal of Obamacare with a two-year delay implementation that would provide a "stable transition period" to a new legislation. | But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he would try to pass a repeal of Obamacare with a two-year delay implementation that would provide a "stable transition period" to a new legislation. |
Correspondents, however, say that this plan has little chance to pass. | |
Reacting to what is being seen as a significant setback, Mr Trump urged Republicans to repeal the "failing Obamacare now and work on a new healthcare plan" that would draw support from Democrats. | Reacting to what is being seen as a significant setback, Mr Trump urged Republicans to repeal the "failing Obamacare now and work on a new healthcare plan" that would draw support from Democrats. |
Democrats have said they will not co-operate to repeal Obamacare, but that they can work in a bipartisan way to improve it. | Democrats have said they will not co-operate to repeal Obamacare, but that they can work in a bipartisan way to improve it. |
Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer said on Twitter: "This second failure of Trumpcare is proof positive that the core of this bill is unworkable." | Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer said on Twitter: "This second failure of Trumpcare is proof positive that the core of this bill is unworkable." |
A similar version of the bill was approved by the House of Representatives in May, but analysts predicted a more turbulent process in the Senate, given the different positions. | A similar version of the bill was approved by the House of Representatives in May, but analysts predicted a more turbulent process in the Senate, given the different positions. |
Two other Republican senators, Rand Paul and Susan Collins, had already announced their opposition to the bill. | Two other Republican senators, Rand Paul and Susan Collins, had already announced their opposition to the bill. |
Congress has been delaying its summer holiday in a bid to overturn former President Barack Obama's 2010 legislation. | Congress has been delaying its summer holiday in a bid to overturn former President Barack Obama's 2010 legislation. |