Given The Option To Repeal Obamacare, Senators Balk
The "clean" repeal proposal would have given lawmakers two years to come up with an alternative, but some Republicans found the idea untenable.
The Associated Press:
GOP Senators Blink On A Big Chance To Repeal 'Obamacare'
After seven years of emphatic campaign promises, Senate Republicans demonstrated they didn't have the stomach to repeal "Obamacare" on Wednesday when it actually counted. The Senate voted 55-45 to reject legislation to throw out major portions of Barack Obama's law without replacing it. (Werner and Fram, 7/26)
The New York Times:
Senate Soundly Rejects Repeal-Only Health Plan
The rejection of “clean repeal” laid bare the deep divisions within the Republican caucus about how best to proceed. The night before, nine Republicans, including both conservatives and moderates, voted against comprehensive legislation to repeal the health law and provide a replacement. Without the votes to replace the health law or to simply repeal major parts of it, Senate Republicans appeared increasingly likely to try to pass a modest measure that would repeal only a few provisions of the law, such as the tax on medical devices and the requirements that most individuals have insurance and that large employers offer coverage to workers. (Kaplan, 7/26)
