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/sep/26/senate-republicans-vote-doomed-healthcare-bill

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Senate Republicans ponder whether to force vote on doomed healthcare bill Senate Republicans ponder whether to force vote on doomed healthcare bill
(35 minutes later)
Republicans are at least three votes short in their effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act with four days to go. Republicans are at least one vote short in their effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), with four days to go.
Now they are grappling with how to concede defeat on one of their central promises of the last decade, while Donald Trump was left railing against “certain so-called Republicans” refusing to vote for the latest bill.Now they are grappling with how to concede defeat on one of their central promises of the last decade, while Donald Trump was left railing against “certain so-called Republicans” refusing to vote for the latest bill.
Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, must now decide whether to force his caucus to vote on the bill which in its current form lacks enough support to pass. This would allow the leaders to show conservative voters and grassroots leaders that the votes are simply not there. Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, must now decide whether to force his caucus to vote on the bill, which in its current form lacks enough support to pass. This would allow the leaders to show conservative voters and grassroots leaders that the votes are simply not there.
On Tuesday, he opened debate in the Senate by assailing Obamacare, but offered no guidance on whether he would hold a vote or not. This decision was expected to be the topic of the weekly Republican lunch on Tuesday. On Tuesday, he opened debate in the Senate by assailing the ACA, widely known as Obamacare, but offered no guidance on whether he would hold a vote or not. This decision was expected to be the topic of the weekly Republican lunch on Tuesday.
Donald Trump has been frustrated by Republicans’ repeated failures on healthcare and has expressed displeasure with the senators who have stood in the way of repeal measures.Donald Trump has been frustrated by Republicans’ repeated failures on healthcare and has expressed displeasure with the senators who have stood in the way of repeal measures.
Asked on Tuesday if he would demand Republican leadership hold a vote on the healthcare bill, Trump replied: “We’ll see what happens.”Asked on Tuesday if he would demand Republican leadership hold a vote on the healthcare bill, Trump replied: “We’ll see what happens.”
“It’s going along and at some point, there will be a repeal and replace,” he added.“It’s going along and at some point, there will be a repeal and replace,” he added.
“But we’ll see whether that point is now or whether it will be shortly thereafter. But we are disappointed in certain so-called Republicans.”“But we’ll see whether that point is now or whether it will be shortly thereafter. But we are disappointed in certain so-called Republicans.”
His frustration came after the very public opposition of senators Susan Collins, Rand Paul and John McCain who have made clear they would vote no. That would be enough to sink the bill given the Republicans’ narrow 52-48 majority in the Senate. His frustration came after the very public opposition of senators Susan Collins, Rand Paul and John McCain, who have made clear they would vote no. That would be enough to sink the bill given the Republicans’ narrow 52-48 majority in the Senate.
In an interview on Tuesday, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who has not publicly stated her position on the bill, said she did not expect a vote on the measure, which would almost certainly fail.In an interview on Tuesday, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who has not publicly stated her position on the bill, said she did not expect a vote on the measure, which would almost certainly fail.
On Monday, Senator Collins announced her opposition to the latest Obamacare repeal attempt, moments after the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office published an analysis predicted that millions would lose their health insurance if the bill became law. On Monday, Collins announced her opposition moments after the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office published an analysis predicting that millions would lose their health insurance if the bill became law.
During a televised debate on healthcare on Monday night, senators Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, the authors of the latest repeal attempt, acknowledged the setbacks but vowed to push forward with their bill.During a televised debate on healthcare on Monday night, senators Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, the authors of the latest repeal attempt, acknowledged the setbacks but vowed to push forward with their bill.
“We are going to press on,” Graham said during the CNN debate. “It’s OK to vote. It’s OK to fall short, if you do, for an idea that you believe in.”“We are going to press on,” Graham said during the CNN debate. “It’s OK to vote. It’s OK to fall short, if you do, for an idea that you believe in.”
For seven years, Republicans have won elections on the promise to repeal the healthcare law and replace it with a conservative plan that removes decision-making power from the federal government. Repealing Obamacare was also a central thrust of Trump’s campaign, though his fickle expectations for its replacement have complicated Republican attempts to repeal the law. For seven years, Republicans have won elections on the promise to repeal the healthcare law and replace it with a conservative plan that removes decision-making power from the federal government. Repealing the ACA was also a central thrust of Trump’s campaign, though his fickle expectations for its replacement have complicated Republican attempts to repeal the law.
In order to overhaul the healthcare system on a party-line vote, Republicans want to use a process called “reconciliation” that allows lawmakers to pass bills affecting taxes and spending with a simple majority. But the reconciliation process is time-bound, tied to a budget resolution Congress passed earlier this year, which ends on 30 September.In order to overhaul the healthcare system on a party-line vote, Republicans want to use a process called “reconciliation” that allows lawmakers to pass bills affecting taxes and spending with a simple majority. But the reconciliation process is time-bound, tied to a budget resolution Congress passed earlier this year, which ends on 30 September.
The analysis followed a frantic attempt by the bill’s authors to win over reluctant senators, revising the bill to deliver more federal funds to states where the senators were undecided, such as Alaska and Maine.The analysis followed a frantic attempt by the bill’s authors to win over reluctant senators, revising the bill to deliver more federal funds to states where the senators were undecided, such as Alaska and Maine.
While Senator Paul opposed the measure because he believed it did not go far enough in repealing the ACA, Collins and McCain, two of the three senators who derailed a repeal attempt in July, lamented a rushed process and urged a return to “regular order”, which includes public hearings and a full CBO analysis. While Paul opposed the measure because he believed it did not go far enough in repealing the ACA, Collins and McCain, two of the three senators who derailed a repeal attempt in July, lamented a rushed process and urged a return to “regular order”, which includes public hearings and a full CBO analysis.
Democrats have meanwhile called on Republicans to drop this effort and focus on bipartisan negotiations over ways to stabilize the insurance markets. Those talks were under way when Republicans decided to try again on repealing the healthcare law. Democrats agree the law has flaws but refuse to negotiate on any proposal that includes repeal.Democrats have meanwhile called on Republicans to drop this effort and focus on bipartisan negotiations over ways to stabilize the insurance markets. Those talks were under way when Republicans decided to try again on repealing the healthcare law. Democrats agree the law has flaws but refuse to negotiate on any proposal that includes repeal.