Senate rejects “clean repeal” of ObamaCare after blocking “repeal and replace”


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Senate Deals 2nd Blow to GOP Healthcare Bills

The Senate deals a second blow to the White House and GOP leadership over healthcare, rejecting a “repeal-only” measure challenging ObamaCare.

The 55-45 vote, in which seven Republicans joined all 48 Democrats to block the bill, follows Tuesday’s 57-43 rejection of the initial GOP attempt to replace ObamaCare with a new system.

The Trump Administration and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell won an initial victory on Tuesday when Vice President Mike Pence broke a 50-50 tie to allow consideration of bills and their amendments, but the efforts soon ran into trouble.

Nine Senators, from both the moderate and conservative flanks, objected to the “repeal and replace” legislation. The “clean repeal” version satisfied conservatives who want nothing left of ObamaCare’s provisions, but it alienated some moderates who point to the loss of coverage for 35 million Americans, restricted provisions for others, and higher premiums if there is a gap between ObamaCare and any replacement.

John McCain of Arizona, who returned from a diagnosis of brain cancer on Tuesday to ensure that the GOP measures could be taken to votes, joined the moderates in objecting to the repeal-only bill.

The Senate’s GOP leadership now appear likely to attempt repeal of only some provisions of ObamaCare — the Affordable Care Act — such as the tax on medical devices, the requirements that most individuals have insurance, and the mandate that large employers offer coverage to workers.

“What we need to do in the Senate is figure out what the lowest common denominator is — what gets us to 50 votes so that we can move forward on a health care reform legislation,” Health Secretary Tom Price said Wednesday.

Yet even that effort may be troubled. The Congressional Budget Office said that even the limited measure would raise the number of uninsured by 15 million next year. Democrats said they were told by the CBO that premiums would rise by about 20%.

Ten governors — five Republicans and five Democrats — urged the Senate to reject “skinny” repeal, while the leading insurer Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, warned ofthe consequences of repealing the mandate that most people have health coverage: “A system that allows people to purchase coverage only when they need it drives up costs for everyone.”

Meanwhile, some conservatives said they would not accept any compromise. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina argued, “The skinny plan is not a replacement of Obamacare. Would it be better than Obamacare? Yeah. But that’s not the goal. The goal is to replace Obamacare.”

Facing final defeat and still without a major piece of legislation after more than six months in office, Donald Trump and his staff jhave quickly resorted to threats against GOP opponents, particuarly Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.