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Obamacare: US senators vote in favour of debating repeal | Obamacare: US senators vote in favour of debating repeal |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The US Senate has voted to start debating a new Republican healthcare bill in a major step forward for President Donald Trump's attempts to repeal his predecessor's signature law. | The US Senate has voted to start debating a new Republican healthcare bill in a major step forward for President Donald Trump's attempts to repeal his predecessor's signature law. |
In a tight vote, several Republicans previously opposed to aspects of the plan changed their minds. | In a tight vote, several Republicans previously opposed to aspects of the plan changed their minds. |
Prior attempts to replace Obamacare have collapsed in recent weeks due to divisions in the Republican party. | Prior attempts to replace Obamacare have collapsed in recent weeks due to divisions in the Republican party. |
President Trump had made scrapping the policy a key campaign pledge. | President Trump had made scrapping the policy a key campaign pledge. |
On Tuesday night, the Senate began the debate-and-vote process which is expected to last a number of days. Nine Republicans voted against the first amendment - to repeal and replace Obamacare - and it failed to pass. | |
Earlier, Mr Trump had warned his party's senators of the repercussions of not pushing through the measures to repeal and replace Obamacare, known formally as the Affordable Care Act. | |
The Republican party, which needed a majority for the motion to go ahead, secured 51 votes after Vice-President Mike Pence cast a tie-breaker in support of the legislation. | The Republican party, which needed a majority for the motion to go ahead, secured 51 votes after Vice-President Mike Pence cast a tie-breaker in support of the legislation. |
Senator John McCain, who was recently diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour, received a standing ovation as he returned to Congress to cast his "Yes" vote. | Senator John McCain, who was recently diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour, received a standing ovation as he returned to Congress to cast his "Yes" vote. |
President Trump tweeted his thanks to the Arizona senator for playing "such a vital role" in the vote. | President Trump tweeted his thanks to the Arizona senator for playing "such a vital role" in the vote. |
"Congrats to all Rep. We can now deliver grt [great] healthcare to all Americans," he wrote. | "Congrats to all Rep. We can now deliver grt [great] healthcare to all Americans," he wrote. |
What happens next? | What happens next? |
It remains unclear what measure senators will now debate and vote on. | It remains unclear what measure senators will now debate and vote on. |
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. |
But senators have also considered a "skinny bill", a far narrower measure that would scale back some of the more controversial elements in an effort to get a wider consensus. | But senators have also considered a "skinny bill", a far narrower measure that would scale back some of the more controversial elements in an effort to get a wider consensus. |
Still a long way to go | Still a long way to go |
Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington | Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington |
If Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wants to get healthcare reform through the Republican-controlled Senate, it's going to take every trick in the book. He used a few of them on Tuesday. | If Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wants to get healthcare reform through the Republican-controlled Senate, it's going to take every trick in the book. He used a few of them on Tuesday. |
Such manoeuvres only delay the day of reckoning, however. Now differences within the Republican Party will have to be resolved on the Senate floor- a metaphorical tightrope act without a net. | Such manoeuvres only delay the day of reckoning, however. Now differences within the Republican Party will have to be resolved on the Senate floor- a metaphorical tightrope act without a net. |
Are there 50 votes for anything substantive - the original Senate bill, the modified Senate bill, the House bill or straight-up repeal without a replacement? | Are there 50 votes for anything substantive - the original Senate bill, the modified Senate bill, the House bill or straight-up repeal without a replacement? |
That's a tall order. Mr McConnell could eventually break the reform bill into pieces, hoping that at least the popular provisions - like ending the requirement that all Americans obtain insurance - can win a majority. | That's a tall order. Mr McConnell could eventually break the reform bill into pieces, hoping that at least the popular provisions - like ending the requirement that all Americans obtain insurance - can win a majority. |
If something - anything - passes, the next step is negotiations with the House to resolve differences in the bill. If a compromise is reached, it's back to the Senate and House to vote on it. | If something - anything - passes, the next step is negotiations with the House to resolve differences in the bill. If a compromise is reached, it's back to the Senate and House to vote on it. |
In other words, Republicans aren't out of the woods yet. Not by a mile. | In other words, Republicans aren't out of the woods yet. Not by a mile. |
What have Republicans proposed? | What have Republicans proposed? |
Republicans have long railed against Obamacare as government overreach, criticising the system for introducing government-run marketplaces, where premiums have risen sharply for some people. | Republicans have long railed against Obamacare as government overreach, criticising the system for introducing government-run marketplaces, where premiums have risen sharply for some people. |
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. |
About 20 million people gained health insurance under former President Obama's Affordable Care Act. | About 20 million people gained health insurance under former President Obama's Affordable Care Act. |
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. |
If Republican senators elect to repeal key provisions of the law without immediately replacing it, the CBO estimates about 32 million consumers would lose insurance over the next 10 years. | If Republican senators elect to repeal key provisions of the law without immediately replacing it, the CBO estimates about 32 million consumers would lose insurance over the next 10 years. |
Six months of Trump | Six months of Trump |