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| Trump plea for unity on showdown healthcare vote | Trump plea for unity on showdown healthcare vote |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| US President Donald Trump has issued a challenge to Republican senators to rally behind their healthcare bill ahead of a crucial vote. | US President Donald Trump has issued a challenge to Republican senators to rally behind their healthcare bill ahead of a crucial vote. |
| "Now is the time for action," he said in a rare healthcare speech on Monday. | "Now is the time for action," he said in a rare healthcare speech on Monday. |
| A procedural vote is taking place as Republicans push forward in their attempt to repeal former President Barack Obama's signature law. | |
| But among Republicans there is confusion about the bill and it is unclear whether it will pass. | But among Republicans there is confusion about the bill and it is unclear whether it will pass. |
| Senator Ron Johnson told reporters before the vote: "I don't have a clue what we're going to be voting on." | |
| What is the vote on Tuesday about? | What is the vote on Tuesday about? |
| Senators are voting on a procedural motion to start debate on a healthcare bill. | |
| Republicans have a majority in the Senate but there are deep divisions in their party on the issue. | Republicans have a majority in the Senate but there are deep divisions in their party on the issue. |
| "Many of us have waited literally years for this moment to arrive and, at long last, it finally has," said Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell on the Senate floor. | "Many of us have waited literally years for this moment to arrive and, at long last, it finally has," said Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell on the Senate floor. |
| But several senators have expressed unhappiness over the process, because it is not clear what they will vote on if the procedure vote passes. | But several senators have expressed unhappiness over the process, because it is not clear what they will vote on if the procedure vote passes. |
| There appear to be two choices - either a repeal-and-replace bill that has already struggled to win support across the party, or a bill that enacts repeal with a two-year delay, in the hope of finding agreement before that time elapses. | There appear to be two choices - either a repeal-and-replace bill that has already struggled to win support across the party, or a bill that enacts repeal with a two-year delay, in the hope of finding agreement before that time elapses. |
| Senator Rand Paul, who opposes the repeal-and-replace bill, tweeted on Tuesday that he would vote in favour of the motion after receiving assurances from Mr McConnell that they planned to take up a clean repeal vote. | Senator Rand Paul, who opposes the repeal-and-replace bill, tweeted on Tuesday that he would vote in favour of the motion after receiving assurances from Mr McConnell that they planned to take up a clean repeal vote. |
| But he also warned that this vote could fail, as it requires 60 votes, and suggested there may even be a third vote on "whatever version of clean repeal we can pass". | But he also warned that this vote could fail, as it requires 60 votes, and suggested there may even be a third vote on "whatever version of clean repeal we can pass". |
| He is referring to a so-called "skinny bill", a far narrower measure that would scale back some of the more controversial elements in an effort to get a wider consensus. | He is referring to a so-called "skinny bill", a far narrower measure that would scale back some of the more controversial elements in an effort to get a wider consensus. |
| Republican senators are due to meet to discuss their options over lunch, before the vote takes place. | Republican senators are due to meet to discuss their options over lunch, before the vote takes place. |
| How likely is it the bill will pass? | How likely is it the bill will pass? |
| Whichever way it goes, it will be tight. | Whichever way it goes, it will be tight. |
| Republicans need a majority for the motion to go ahead and have only 52 seats in the 100-seat Senate. | Republicans need a majority for the motion to go ahead and have only 52 seats in the 100-seat Senate. |
| A breakthrough came for Republicans when Senators Rand Paul, Shelley Moore Capito and Dean Heller, all opponents of the Senate's recent Obamacare repeal plans, said they were in favour of debating a healthcare bill. | |
| Crucially, Senator John McCain, who was recently diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour, has returned to Congress to cast his vote. | |
| Mr McConnell is hoping his presence will help push the vote through, as the Arizona senator has previously voiced support for debating the healthcare bill. | Mr McConnell is hoping his presence will help push the vote through, as the Arizona senator has previously voiced support for debating the healthcare bill. |
| The Republican senator of Maine, Susan Collins, had already stated she would vote against the bill, and several others have expressed their reservations. | |
| What did President Trump say? | What did President Trump say? |
| The president increased the pressure on his party by warning them they had a duty to adhere to seven years of promises. | The president increased the pressure on his party by warning them they had a duty to adhere to seven years of promises. |
| In a White House speech laced with frustration, President Trump said: "To every member of the Senate I say this: The American people have waited long enough. | In a White House speech laced with frustration, President Trump said: "To every member of the Senate I say this: The American people have waited long enough. |
| "There's been enough talk, and no action. Now is the time for action." | "There's been enough talk, and no action. Now is the time for action." |
| He lambasted his predecessor's overhaul of healthcare, known as Obamacare, and stood alongside people he said were "victims" of the 2010 law. | He lambasted his predecessor's overhaul of healthcare, known as Obamacare, and stood alongside people he said were "victims" of the 2010 law. |
| Obamacare extended healthcare insurance to about 20 million people but Republicans hate the way it introduced government-run marketplaces, where premiums have risen sharply for some people. | Obamacare extended healthcare insurance to about 20 million people but Republicans hate the way it introduced government-run marketplaces, where premiums have risen sharply for some people. |
| Mr Trump tweeted again on Tuesday morning, saying it was a "big day for healthcare" and that "we will soon see whether or not Republicans are willing to step up to the plate!" | Mr Trump tweeted again on Tuesday morning, saying it was a "big day for healthcare" and that "we will soon see whether or not Republicans are willing to step up to the plate!" |
| He added: "Repeal or Repeal & Replace! I have pen in hand." | He added: "Repeal or Repeal & Replace! I have pen in hand." |
| What have Republicans proposed? | What have Republicans proposed? |
| The party's proposed alternative includes steep cuts to Medicaid, a healthcare programme for the poor and disabled. | The party's proposed alternative includes steep cuts to Medicaid, a healthcare programme for the poor and disabled. |
| And it removes Obamacare's individual mandate requiring all Americans to have health insurance or pay a tax penalty. | And it removes Obamacare's individual mandate requiring all Americans to have health insurance or pay a tax penalty. |
| The non-partisan Congressional Budgetary Office (CBO) found the bill would strip 22 million Americans of health insurance over the next decade. | The non-partisan Congressional Budgetary Office (CBO) found the bill would strip 22 million Americans of health insurance over the next decade. |
| But if the bill gets to the floor of the Senate, amendments could be added to change the various provisions. | But if the bill gets to the floor of the Senate, amendments could be added to change the various provisions. |
| And what's this stuff about a duel? | And what's this stuff about a duel? |
| A Republican politician has blamed "female senators" for the spluttering efforts by his party to pass a healthcare bill. | A Republican politician has blamed "female senators" for the spluttering efforts by his party to pass a healthcare bill. |
| Blake Farenthold, a congressman from Texas, told a local radio station if a man from his state was responsible, he would challenge him to a duel. | Blake Farenthold, a congressman from Texas, told a local radio station if a man from his state was responsible, he would challenge him to a duel. |
| "Some of the people that are opposed to this, they're some female senators from the North East." | "Some of the people that are opposed to this, they're some female senators from the North East." |
| Maine senator Susan Collins was one of several female Republicans who said they could not back the Senate's last healthcare plan, a repeal with two-year delay, which hit the buffers last week. | |
| Ms Collins, a moderate Republican, has been strongly opposed to the Republican bill from the start over the cuts to Medicaid. | Ms Collins, a moderate Republican, has been strongly opposed to the Republican bill from the start over the cuts to Medicaid. |
| Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska also spoke out against the bill, expressing concerns over plans to weaken protections for people with pre-existing conditions and affordability. | |
| There was an outcry when Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell drafted the first healthcare bill in private among a group of 13 that did not include any women. | There was an outcry when Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell drafted the first healthcare bill in private among a group of 13 that did not include any women. |