With a vote cast at 1:30 in the morning, the US Senate took a first major step toward dismantling Obamacare, offering a resolution that instructs committees of the House and Senate to draft repeal legislation by a target date of January 27.
In other words … It’s happening!
We are putting in place the tools necessary to keep our promise to repeal #Obamacare. pic.twitter.com/JQdkqx5dQQ
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) January 12, 2017
The final vote tally was 51 to 48, and the House is expected to take up the legislation later in the week.
Republicans only need a simple majority thanks to a budget procedure known as reconciliation – the same tactic employed by Democrats to help kickstart the law into effect without Republican support. Republicans can now begin repealing the law without Democrat support.
Via Reuters:
The U.S. Senate on Thursday took a first concrete step toward dismantling Obamacare, voting to instruct key committees to draft legislation repealing President Barack Obama’s signature health insurance program.
The vote was 51-48. The resolution now goes to the House of Representatives, which is expected to vote on it this week. Scrapping Obamacare is a top priority for the Republican majorities in both chambers and Republican President-elect Donald Trump.
…
Senate Republicans are using special budget procedures that allow them to repeal Obamacare by a simple majority; this way they don’t need Democratic votes.
As the Reuters report points out, the average Obamacare premium is set to rise 25 percent in 2017, a burden many Americans just can’t bear.
It has to be quite infuriating for President Obama to watch his legacy – his signature legislation – come crashing down just days prior to leaving the White House for good.
What’s infuriating for Obama is good for America.
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