After the latest attempt to bring an alternative healthcare bill to a vote failed like its predecessors, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell caved to conservative demands and promised an Obamacare repeal vote without an accompanying replacement. The critical opposition of Senator Mike Lee and Senator Jerry Moran killed the latest attempt. Each attempt has been plagued by defections from both conservatives and moderates.
The Senate Majority Leader released a statement late on Monday announcing the change after the cancelled vote.
My statement on an upcoming vote to repeal #Obamacare pic.twitter.com/RdyDiUJfMD
— Leader McConnell (@SenateMajLdr) July 18, 2017
Senator Mitch McConnell correctly noted that House Republicans and Senate Republicans voted to repeal Obamacare in 2015. This includes the vast majority of those currently in office. In the Senate, the Obamacare repeal passed 52 to 47, as all but two Republicans voted for the bill. Senator Mark Kirk (defeated in 2016) and Senator Susan Collins voted against the repeal. This means that 51 of 52 Senate Republicans backed the 2015 repeal. Republican voters will remember if these senators vote differently in 2017.
