Despite facing a veto threat from President Barack Obama, Senate Republicans voted Thursday to approve legislation that would repeal key provisions of the healthcare reform law known as Obamacare.
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Thursday’s vote was a near party-line 52-47.
The overall healthcare bill only needed 51 votes to pass instead of the usual 60 because it was being considered under a special budget reconciliation process. The group denies the allegations. The legislation aims to deal with GOP objections to ACA and Planned Parenthood through reconciliation rather than the omnibus spending bill, where a standoff with Democrats could again raise the specter of a government shutdown.
The bill would repeal the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate, employer mandate, medical device tax and the so-called “Cadillac tax” on high-cost employer-offered health care plans.
The measure would repeal the federal government’s authority to run health care exchanges and scrap subsidies created to help people pay for plans bought through those exchanges.
Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion provider in the USA and has great political influence.
Planned Parenthood spokesman Dawn Laguens said the Senate had given the group’s millions of clients “the cold shoulder of indifference”.
President Obama reiterated his promise to veto the bill. Opponents of Planned Parenthood said there are many alternatives that provide women with access to health care.
The vote comes after anti-abortion activists released videos earlier this year allegedly showing organization officials discussing the sale of fetal tissue, which sent GOP officials and conservatives into an uproar.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Obamacare has raised health care costs, limited patients’ ability to choose their doctors, and hurt the already struggling middle class.
However, observers say it is likely that at least some of the health care law repeal provisions could be included in so-called “must pass” legislation to extend expiring tax code provisions.
“It’s either repeal or nothing”, Sen. This bill is a substantial improvement over the original House bill, and Im grateful to Senate conservatives and Senate leadership for joining me in making it so..
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It now goes to the House of Representatives, where it is expected to pass. The House passed a similar version on October 23, but must vote on it because the Senate made changes to adhere to budgetary rules. “I’ll take that to the polls and we’ll talk about it until the cows come home”.
