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Republican Obamacare repeal bill fails in U.S. Senate

By Yasmeen Abutaleb, Amanda Becker and David Morgan

 

Aides carry a sign near the Senate floor prior to an all night round of health care votes on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., July 27, 2017. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Republicans failed early on Friday to overturn the healthcare law known as Obamacare, in a stinging blow to President Donald Trump that may end the Republican Party's seven-year quest to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

 

Three Republicans, Senators John McCain, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, crossed party lines to join Democrats in a dramatic 49-to-51 vote to kill the bill. The debate began just before 1:30 a.m. (0530 GMT) on Friday morning.

 

Republican leaders had decided to vote on a pared-down proposal to repeal portions of Obamacare known as the "skinny bill" after failing to reach consensus on a more comprehensive measure after the U.S. House of Representatives approved their bill in May.

 

"This is clearly a disappointing moment," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on the floor after the vote.

 

"I think the American people are going to regret that we couldn't find a better way forward," he said.

 

Despite controlling the Senate, the House and the White House, Republicans have struggled for months with repealing Obamacare, a complex law approved by Democrats in 2010 under former President Barack Obama that provided health insurance to millions of previously uninsured Americans.

 

Trump, who campaigned for the White House on promises to repeal Obamacare, has offered no legislation of his own and little guidance to the Senate, although he has berated them for their inaction.

 

A White House media spokeswoman could not immediately be reached for comment on the bill's failure.

 

Republicans hold 52 seats in the 100-seat Senate and McConnell could only afford to lose support from two Republican senators, with the tie-breaking vote to be cast by Vice President Mike Pence, who was on the Senate floor.

 

All eyes were on McCain, who flew back from Arizona after being diagnosed with brain cancer in order to vote, and sat with Collins, Murkowski, and Senator Jeff Flake, also from Arizona.

 

Collins and Murkowski both voted against more comprehensive Republican proposals to repeal and replace Obamacare this week. Trump has singled out Murkowski for criticism, saying on Twitter that she had let down the Republican Party and the country.

 

McCain was approached minutes before the vote by Pence and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. Graham had said on Thursday he had decided to vote for the skinny bill after reassurances from House Speaker Paul Ryan that it would not become law.

 

After speaking to Pence and Graham for some time, McCain walked across the floor to tell Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senators Dick Durbin, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar and Dianne Feinstein that they had his vote. Feinstein embraced him as voting began.

 

Cheers erupted in the Senate chamber as McCain cast what was believed to be the deciding "no" vote.

 

After the bill's failure, Schumer told the Senate that it was time to heed McCain's call this week to return to a more transparent and bipartisan legislative process.

 

"He's a hero, he's a hero of mine," Schumer told reporters after the vote.

 

(Reporting by Amanda Becker, David Morgan and Yasmeen Abutaleb; Editing by Louise Ireland)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-07-28

[darksidedog]

Well, well. Only a day or two ago, McCain took some stick on this forum for voting to open the topic for debate and here today it is his vote that has saved the day from a very nasty and half thought out piece of legislation. And he is entirely right, that a more bipartisan approach is needed for any common sense legislation to go through, though I don't truly expect either side to actually do so.

[midas]

5 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

Well, well. Only a day or two ago, McCain took some stick on this forum for voting to open the topic for debate and here today it is his vote that has saved the day from a very nasty and half thought out piece of legislation. And he is entirely right, that a more bipartisan approach is needed for any common sense legislation to go through, though I don't truly expect either side to actually do so.

McCain shouldn't even be calling himself a Republican. I wonder if the majority of his constituents back in Arizona approved of him voting like a Democrat?

[Jingthing]

5 minutes ago, midas said:

McCain shouldn't even be calling himself a Republican. I wonder if the majority of his constituents back in Arizona approved of him voting like a Democrat?

Yes, they did. Since the republicans seriously tried to repeal ACA, ACA has become a lot more popular, as many people that even voted for trump realized that they were going after THEIR health care!

Arizona has many aged. The republicans tried to gut Medicaid which is vital in funding elder care in nursing homes and home health care as well. 

Arizona also has expanded Medicaid. 

People like it. 

How about FIXING the problems of ACA in a nonpartisan way now? 

Edited July 28, 2017 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

12 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

Well, well. Only a day or two ago, McCain took some stick on this forum for voting to open the topic for debate and here today it is his vote that has saved the day from a very nasty and half thought out piece of legislation. And he is entirely right, that a more bipartisan approach is needed for any common sense legislation to go through, though I don't truly expect either side to actually do so.

Yes, bipartisan please. But the clown president is in REVENGE mode (again). 

 

Quote

 

Donald J. Trump‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump  52m52 minutes ago

More

3 Republicans and 48 Democrats let the American people down. As I said from the beginning, let ObamaCare implode, then deal. Watch!

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 28, 2017 by Jingthing

[midas]

31 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Yes, bipartisan please. But the clown president is in REVENGE mode (again). 

 

 

 

 

 

I reckon it's the other way around. Ultra warmonger John McCain (and Lindsey Graham) are desperate to start of world War 3 wherever they can but President Trump keeps getting in the way. This is John McCain's way of getting revenge

Edited July 28, 2017 by midas

[Thakkar]

 

[Thakkar]

29 minutes ago, midas said:

I reckon it's the other way around. Ultra warmonger John McCain (and Lindsey Graham) are desperate to start of world War 3 wherever they can but President Trump keeps getting in the way. This is John McCain's way of getting revenge

Let's see:

McCain "desperately" wanted to start WW3.

Trump didn't let him.

McCain takes revenge by listening to a majority of his constituents and voting against the GOP healthcare bill.

 

So Americans now get to avoid WW3 AND get to keep their healthcare.

 

What's the problem?

 

T

[Jingthing]

BTW, I wasn't making it up that ACA has become more popular.

The republicans in FAILING to pass any kind of repeal/ replace at all have actually fulfilled the will of the majority.

However, the majority NOW wants bipartisan action on fixing the existing ACA law.

The democrats are ready to do that. 

But are the republicans?

According to trump ... NO.

 

http://money.cnn.com/2017/04/05/news/economy/obamacare-approval-poll/index.html

Quote

More than half of Americans approve of Obamacare now, Gallup poll finds

 

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/04/28/yes-obamacare-is-more-popular-than-president-trump/

Quote

Yes, Obamacare is more popular than President Trump

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/06/obamacare-now-favored-by-majority-of-americans.html

 

"As Senate Prepares to Attack It, Obamacare Now Favored by Majority of Americans

So if and when the Senate votes on its version of the American Health Care Act, Republicans should have no illusions about how the public feels about what they are doing. They like Obamacare more than ever, and they don’t like what might come next."

Edited July 28, 2017 by Jingthing

[Skywalker69]

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Yes, bipartisan please. But the clown president is in REVENGE mode (again). 

 

 

 

 

 

Quote

Yes, bipartisan please. But the clown president is in REVENGE mode (again). 

 

This is all about revenge on Obama.

[Grubster]

I am shocked that this very one sided bill even came close to passing, I think the repubs. dodged a bullet here as if this passed they were doomed in 2018. Now they can say that all things bad in health care are the dems. fault.  Most of their voters don't know any better and will gleefully follow suit. They will block any meaningful repair of Obama care.

[attrayant]

I think the repubs dodged a bullet here as if this passed they were doomed in 2018. Now they can say that all things bad in health care are the dems. fault.  Most of their voters don't know any better and will gleefully follow suit.

The democratic sales pitch for 2018 will be this: we saved everyone's health care tonight (which will certainly resonate with all those angry republican town hall constituents), now if you'll just give us a congressional majority, we'll lead the charge to make the needed improvements to the ACA. If republicans spend the next 18 months blocking bipartisan improvements to the ACA, that'll just be additional proof of how useless they are.

[Grubster]

2 minutes ago, attrayant said:

 

The democratic sales pitch for 2018 will be this: we saved everyone's health care tonight (which will certainly resonate with all those angry republican town hall constituents), now if you'll just give us a congressional majority, we'll lead the charge to make the needed improvements to the ACA. If republicans spend the next 18 months blocking bipartisan improvements to the ACA, that'll just be additional proof of how useless they are.

 

Maybe but had this bill passed we would have seen the results of their stupidity and the dems would have more evidence of how useless they are.

[Credo]

9 hours ago, midas said:

McCain shouldn't even be calling himself a Republican. I wonder if the majority of his constituents back in Arizona approved of him voting like a Democrat?

Arizona would be very hard hit by any repeal or roll back of healthcare.   McCain knows well that the AZ citizens are not in favor of rolling back healthcare.   There has always been a thread of decency in McCain and even though there is a good chance he will not be up for re-election, he does care about his constituents and voted as they would like him to vote.

 

Not everyone or everything can be divided down to Democrat or Republican.   

[Basil B]

What next, just rename Obamacare...

 

 

                                                                                                               ...Trumpcare?

[newatthis]

18 hours ago, midas said:

McCain shouldn't even be calling himself a Republican. I wonder if the majority of his constituents back in Arizona approved of him voting like a Democrat?

Do you have something against conscience voting?

[Skywalker69]

18 hours ago, midas said:

McCain shouldn't even be calling himself a Republican. I wonder if the majority of his constituents back in Arizona approved of him voting like a Democrat?

A senator doesn´t work for his party, he works for his constituency.

 

[Rancid]

So who is making the biggest fool of themselves, Trump or Republicans? If they hate Obamacare so much why can't they get rid of it, all very bizarre for an outsider observing. Seems they have few problems agreeing on Russian sanctions despite lack of any real evidence, but can't vote out a "socialist" system they profess to hate. Seems the quality of US politicians is every bit as bad as Australia, just a collection of useless corrupt bottom feeders.

[Jonnapat]

Congratulations to the US Senate and in particular John McCain.

Yet another Trump failed mission despite all the bullying tactics.

7 months in office and absolutely nothing to show for it. 

[Scott]

Off-topic removed.  

[farcanell]

22 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Well, well. Only a day or two ago, McCain took some stick on this forum for voting to open the topic for debate and here today it is his vote that has saved the day from a very nasty and half thought out piece of legislation. And he is entirely right, that a more bipartisan approach is needed for any common sense legislation to go through, though I don't truly expect either side to actually do so.

Definitely my mistake on that one.... I incorrectly thought that the previous article you reference was a vote for repeal.

 

scanning vs reading... apologies to the forum.

 

Edited July 29, 2017 by farcanell

[Scott]

Off-topic post removed.   The topic is about the repeal of Obamacare.   It's not about Obama and it's not about the economy.   Continued trolling will earn suspensions.  

[Thakkar]

Please Watch the the two minute vid at the link. A succinct critique 

 

 

Sheldon Whitehouse (@SenWhitehouse)

28/7/2017, 10:31 AM This devastating “health care” bill is the result of what happens when a party becomes beholden to a small group of creepy billionaires.  pic.twitter.com/O2m2cyWuH2

[ilostmypassword]

3 hours ago, Rancid said:

So who is making the biggest fool of themselves, Trump or Republicans? If they hate Obamacare so much why can't they get rid of it, all very bizarre for an outsider observing. Seems they have few problems agreeing on Russian sanctions despite lack of any real evidence, but can't vote out a "socialist" system they profess to hate. Seems the quality of US politicians is every bit as bad as Australia, just a collection of useless corrupt bottom feeders.

Actually, Australia has a very good health care system mostly funded by the government.  

"In an international comparative study of the health care systems in six countries (Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States), found that "Australia ranks highest on healthy lives, scoring first or second on all of the indicators", although its overall ranking in the study was below the UK and Germany systems, tied with New Zealand's and above those of Canada and far above the U.S.^[25][26]"

^{https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_Australia}

Quite an achievement for "useless corrupt bottom feeders."

 

[lvr181]

"...has offered no legislation of his own and little guidance to the Senate, although he has berated them for their inaction."  Trump is like a petulant child!   There was 'action'! He just disagreed with it.

 

I can only hope that he does not lead his country down the path of war. He reminds me, somewhat, the same as the leader of the much vaunted Third Reich. Got the blinkers on and does not listen to advice. If there is any advice he will only listen to that which is agreeable to his point of view. 

 

(my italics)

[maewang99]

what's amazing to me is that no one.... or thing..... in the markets....

including the fx markets... unless maybe a tad so but only recently....

has tried to reconcile that both sides in this... Dems and GOP....

are ****both**** now using sob stories about 'average Americans' losing their homes etc etc because they 'made too much money' etc etc... and that's now the GOP pulling that out to get rid of 'Obamacare'...

that in this political situation they are going to be able to make actual and major ****cuts**** in Medicare and Medicaid entitlements when if they don't the US goes bust in less than 10 years.. with or without 10 or 20 or 30 or more 'debt limit' increases... the markets have their own Debt Limits.

the story ends here or there. but it ends and soon now.

 

demographics says so.

yet in broad day light they cannot cut, and in dark chambers they couldn't get it done even stretching things this far into the danger zone... i.e. if the skinny bill had ****not**** gone straight as is to the House and then on to Trump after getting past the Senate.

come on now.. get real.

bring it on now, why wait for a new George Soros to make a big bet?


 

Edited July 29, 2017 by maewang99

[joecoolfrog]

Trump and his supporters must be getting bored of 'winning' so often !

[Basil B]

5 hours ago, Rancid said:

So who is making the biggest fool of themselves, Trump or Republicans? If they hate Obamacare so much why can't they get rid of it, all very bizarre for an outsider observing. Seems they have few problems agreeing on Russian sanctions despite lack of any real evidence, but can't vote out a "socialist" system they profess to hate. Seems the quality of US politicians is every bit as bad as Australia, just a collection of useless corrupt bottom feeders.

The reason why they can not get rid of it is a few Republicans do care.

 

[Becker]

6 hours ago, Rancid said:

So who is making the biggest fool of themselves, Trump or Republicans? If they hate Obamacare so much why can't they get rid of it, all very bizarre for an outsider observing. Seems they have few problems agreeing on Russian sanctions despite lack of any real evidence, but can't vote out a "socialist" system they profess to hate. Seems the quality of US politicians is every bit as bad as Australia, just a collection of useless corrupt bottom feeders.

I have found that those who call all politicians in countries that score high in any ranking regarding standard of living and happiness are without fail sad fringe elements that are best ignored.

[ilostmypassword]

And npw he's tweeted this:

“If a new HealthCare Bill is not approved quickly, BAILOUTS for Insurance Companies and BAILOUTS for Members of Congress will end very soon!” 

Once again, I find myself half-hoping that he will carry through on his threat and seal electoral doom for the Republicans.