This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jul/28/healthcare-bill-us-senate-votes-down-obamacare-skinny-repeal-revolt-by-john-mccain

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Obamacare: US senate votes down 'skinny repeal' of health act after revolt by John McCain Obamacare: US senate votes down 'skinny repeal' of health act after revolt by John McCain
(35 minutes later)
Arizona senator John McCain provided a historic and critical vote to torpedo an Obamacare repeal bill – and with it Donald Trump’s legislative agenda – in a night of high drama on Capitol Hill. Arizona senator John McCain provided a historic and critical vote to torpedo the Obamacare repeal bill – and with it Donald Trump’s legislative agenda – in a night of high drama on Capitol Hill.
McCain, who only returned to the US Senate earlier this week after a diagnosis of brain cancer, joined fellow Republicans Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska in voting down the so called “skinny repeal” bill 51-49. McCain, who only returned to Washington earlier this week after a diagnosis of brain cancer, joined fellow Republicans Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska in voting down the so-called “skinny repeal” bill 51-49.
The six-term senator who was his party’s 2008 presidential nominee told reporters “wait for the show” before arriving for the vote in the Senate chamber. The six-term senator, who was his party’s 2008 presidential candidate against Barack Obama, told reporters “wait for the show” before arriving for the vote in the Senate chamber.
There McCain was lobbied by Vice President Mike Pence, who was on the floor of the Senate to preside in case of a tie, for over 20 minutes. The two went back and forth and occasionally disappeared from the chamber altogether. Once there, McCain was lobbied by vice-president Mike Pence, who was on the floor of the Senate to preside in case of a tie, for over 20 minutes. The two went back and forth and occasionally disappeared from the chamber altogether.
But as the votes were cast McCain, who had long nurtured a reputation as a maverick willing to buck party lines, showed his dissent giving a black eye to Trump, who had famously mocked McCain as “not a war hero” during the 2016 campaign. But as the votes were cast, McCain, who had long nurtured a reputation as a maverick willing to buck party lines, delivered a black eye to Trump, who had famously mocked McCain as “not a war hero” during the 2016 campaign.
The dramatic conclusion ended months of furious negotiating that exposed a party riven over how to dismantle a law that extended healthcare coverage to millions of Americans and has taken root in several states, in some cases with the help of Republican governors.The dramatic conclusion ended months of furious negotiating that exposed a party riven over how to dismantle a law that extended healthcare coverage to millions of Americans and has taken root in several states, in some cases with the help of Republican governors.
Friday morning’s vote also deprives Donald Trump of a single major legislative victory six months into his turbulent presidency. Trump had campaigned on repealing Obamacare but intervened late in the process. His lobbying was sporadic, inconsistent and occasionally counterintuitive. He said in an interview that the House healthcare bill that passed in May and which the Senate bill mirrors, was “mean”. Friday morning’s vote also deprived Trump of his first major legislative victory six months into his turbulent administration. The president had campaigned on repealing Obamacare but intervened late in the process. His lobbying was sporadic, inconsistent and occasionally counterintuitive. He said in an interview that the House healthcare bill that passed in May and which the Senate bill mirrors, was “mean”.
Democrats have conceded that there are problems with Obama’s healthcare law but remained uniformly opposed to any measure that would repeal it. That left Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell with a small margin of error. He could only lose two votes, with vice-president Mike Pence on hand to cast a tie-breaking vote. He lost three when McCain voted no. Democrats have conceded that there are problems with Obama’s healthcare law but remained uniformly opposed to any measure that would repeal it. That left Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell with a small margin of error. He could only lose two votes, with Pence on hand to cast a tie-breaking vote. He lost three when McCain voted no.
Nearly 20 million people gained healthcare coverage under Obama’s Affordable Care Act. The law requires all Americans to have insurance or face a penalty and offered states funding incentives to expand Medicaid coverage for people with low-incomes.Nearly 20 million people gained healthcare coverage under Obama’s Affordable Care Act. The law requires all Americans to have insurance or face a penalty and offered states funding incentives to expand Medicaid coverage for people with low-incomes.
The Senate “skinny repeal” bill was made public minutes before 10pm EDT on Thursday night, giving senators only a few hours to review the measure before voting on it. However, many Republican senators disdained it and viewed it as “disaster” and worse than Obamacare. Instead, they simply viewed it as “a vehicle” to advance the legislative process. The “skinny repeal” bill would have removed the so-called individual mandate and also the obligation on larger companies to pay for insurance for employees.
The bill was made public minutes before 10pm EDT on Thursday night, giving senators only a few hours to review the measure before voting on it. However, many Republican senators disdained it and viewed it as “disaster” and worse than Obamacare. Instead, they simply viewed it as “a vehicle” to advance the legislative process.
Senate leadership had touted the “skinny” bill as a mechanism to force a conference committee with the House, taking time to hash out a compromise. As rumblings grew that the House might simply put the bill to a swift up and down vote, many Republicans began to hesitate about the legislation.Senate leadership had touted the “skinny” bill as a mechanism to force a conference committee with the House, taking time to hash out a compromise. As rumblings grew that the House might simply put the bill to a swift up and down vote, many Republicans began to hesitate about the legislation.
In a new analysis released roughly an hour after the bill was filed, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Committee estimated that 15 million people would lose coverage and premiums would rise by 20% compared to current law.In a new analysis released roughly an hour after the bill was filed, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Committee estimated that 15 million people would lose coverage and premiums would rise by 20% compared to current law.
More to follow ...