WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the effort by congressional Republicans to pass a health care bill (all times local):
The Senate has blocked a wide-ranging proposal by Republicans to repeal much of former President Barack Obama’s health care law and replace it with a more restrictive plan.
Senators voted 57-43 late Tuesday to reject the plan in the first vote on an amendment to the bill. Those voting “no” included nine defecting Republicans.
The vote underscored problems Republicans will have in winning enough votes to recast Obama’s statute.
The rejected proposal included language by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell erasing the Obama law’s tax penalties on people not buying insurance and cutting Medicaid.
I support a full repeal of Obamacare & will continue to oppose the BCRA. Here is my full statement: pic.twitter.com/96EnYVVf8m
— Jerry Moran (@JerryMoran) July 25, 2017
Language by Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz would let insurers sell cut-rate policies with skimpy coverage. And there was an additional $100 billion to help states ease costs for people losing Medicaid sought by Midwestern moderates.
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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Both Kansas Sens. Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran have voted in favor of having the Senate debate health care legislation.
The two Republicans were on the same side Tuesday even though they’ve taken different stances on a proposal from GOP leaders for overhauling health care.
Roberts has backed the measure, although he acknowledged in an interview last week that he is not entirely pleased with it.
Moran made national headlines for opposing the plan, costing it enough GOP votes to pass and stalling the health care debate.
Moran said in a statement that he’s still opposed to the GOP plan. But he said he will vote to repeal former President Barack Obama’s signature 2010 Affordable Care Act and work on a replacement over the next two years.
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3:10 p.m.
The Senate Tuesday voted to move ahead on health care legislation aimed at dismantling the Obama health law. Both Kansas Senators voted in favor of the measure.
The vote was 51-50 on Tuesday, a victory for Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and President Donald Trump. Last week, McConnell was forced to postpone the vote, lacking the support of conservatives and moderates.
Vice President Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking vote.
In a dramatic turn, Sen. John McCain returned from Arizona where he is battling brain cancer to cast a crucial vote on proceeding on health care.
The vote sets up days of debate and votes on repealing and replacing Barack Obama’s health care law. Whatever the Senate approves still requires a vote in the House.
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2:35 p.m.
Protesters temporarily disrupted the Senate proceedings on the health care bill.
Shouting “Kill the bill” and “shame,” the demonstrators stood in the visitors’ gallery and chanted. They were led out of the chamber by police but could still be heard.
The vote got underway on moving head on health care with the goal of erasing much of Barack Obama’s law. The Senate chamber was packed, with lawmakers standing to cast their votes.
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