Independent senator Bernie Sanders, of Vermont, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, did not vote.
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The vote on the bill, known as a budget reconciliation measure, is symbolic because President Barack Obama is expected to veto it. But it is the first time a bill to unravel most of the Affordable Care Act is expected to make it to his desk.
In the Senate, Democrats and several liberal Republicans tried but failed to gut the language that defunds Planned Parenthood from the bill.
Toomey, when asked whether he was concerned about repealing the Medicaid expansion, replied: “I’ve been on record in favor of completely repealing Obamacare for a long time and I’ve not changed my opinion on that”.
Republicans lack the two-thirds majority needed to override the promised veto by Obama.
One bit of drama on the final vote was whether GOP presidential candidates Sens.
Democrats brought up the Manchin-Toomey measure, a proposal from Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Sen.
Cruz could have attempted to overturn the ruling of the presiding chair, who nearly always follows the advice of the parliamentarian, with a simple-majority vote.
Three Republicans besides Toomey voted for the expanded background check legislation.
“Recently, we have seen horrific videos further demonstrating that Planned Parenthood has an appalling disregard for human life”, Toomey said. Democrats want to show America how Republicans would deny coverage for millions by taking apart the health care overhauls they claim are successful. “Next fall, voters will remember how their Senators ignored the problems that actually demand Congressional action to wage a unsafe ideological crusade”.
“Everybody knows (repeal) is a gesture in futility”, Democratic Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said before the vote.
Though the provisions won’t become law, the roll call will allow Democrats to run 2016 campaign ads attacking vulnerable Senate Republicans for how they voted.
Four Republicans – Kirk, Collins, Toomey and Sen. All four are up for reelection in 2016. The amendment drew wide support from both Republicans and Democrats and passed 90-10. Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.).
They rejected two amendments that would have restored Planned Parenthood’s money.
The overall bill was a carefully crafted product of negotiations after two of the Republican senators also running for president – Ted Cruz (Tex.) and Marco Rubio (Fla.) along with Sen. “Rather than refighting old political battles by once again voting to repeal basic protections that provide security for the middle class, members of Congress should be working together to grow the economy, strengthen middle-class families and create new jobs”, a statement from the White House said. The court on June 25 preserved subsidies that help millions of Americans pay their health insurance premiums.
Democrats also told the GOP to leave Planned Parenthood alone.
Most of the vulnerable Republican senators didn’t shy from the vote – and even promoted their support.
The House will need to approve the amended legislation before it can be sent to the White House. “And today I am back to check on my Republican colleagues because it appears they are suffering from a serious case of memory loss”.
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“It’s time to put an end to this failed experiment and its broken promises so we can enact real reforms that will finally lower costs and expand access to more Americans”, said Republican National Committee Chairman Chairman Reince Priebus.
