Washington: A Republican rebellion forced the delay on Tuesday of a Senate vote on the party’s healthcare overhaul, an embarrassing setback for US President Donald Trump who was left scrambling to salvage the controversial plan.
With the Senate bill delayed until after the July 4 congressional recess, the timeline of the effort — and the overall viability of a years-long bid to dismantle Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) in favour of a Republican replacement — was thrown into question.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell acknowledged he did not have the votes, after a non-partisan forecast projected the bill would swell the ranks of the uninsured by 22 million by 2026 as compared to current law.
“We will not be on the bill this week, but we’re still working towards getting at least 50 people in a comfortable place,” he said in announcing the delay.
“We’re not quite there, but I think we’ve got a really good chance of getting there,” he added. “It’ll just take us a little bit longer.”
McConnell is expected to huddle with his caucus to find ways of tweaking the bill that will placate several lawmakers who have expressed concerns with the legislation.
The ideological differences between conservatives and moderates within the party were so stark that it was clear leadership did not even have the 50 votes in the 100-member chamber needed to simply begin debate on the bill. Republicans hold 52 Senate seats. They need at least 50 votes, as Vice- President Mike Pence would break the tie in favour of the measure.
But at least nine Republican senators have now said they oppose the bill as is. After the announcement, Republican senators headed to the White House for an urgent meeting with Trump, who made it clear that the pressure was on.
“We have to have healthcare, and it can’t be Obamacare which is melting down,” Trump said, as dozens of lawmakers sat grim-faced around a White House conference table.
But he also signalled that there might not be a path forward.
“This will be great if we get it done. And if we don’t get it done it’s going to be something that we’re not going to like, and that’s OK,” Trump said.
The president had similarly intervened in March after House Speaker Paul Ryan was forced to pull the first version of that chamber’s plan.
A tweaked bill then passed the House, with a handful of Republicans opposing it. — AFP
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