Despite Previous Misgivings, Some Hesitant Republicans Still Voted To Allow Health Care Debate
A look at where individual lawmakers came down on the vote.
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A look at where individual lawmakers came down on the vote.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who was diagnosed with brain cancer last week, flew back to D.C. to help Republicans pass the vote to begin the health care debate. The senator then took to the floor to lambaste his colleagues on the current state of politics in Congress.
Vice President Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking vote for the Senate to begin debate on health care legislation. Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska were the two Republican hold outs.
Nine senators joined Democrats to easily defeat the legislation that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has been working to get passed the last few weeks.
Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Republican leadership secure the needed 50 votes -- with Vice President Mike Pence casting the tie-breaking vote to reach 51 -- to bring health care legislation to the floor.
Here's a review of editorials and opinions on a range of public health issues.
Columnists offer thoughts on these issues as well as who has gained ground with Obamacare, how self-employed people are bracing for change and the future of single-payer concepts.
Opinion writers offer critiques of the GOP health plans, their strategies and how it could all play out for them in the next election.
Media outlets report on news from Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, California, Tennessee, Florida, Maryland and Kansas.
The rule against psychiatrists offering their analysis of behaviors, such as ones exhibited by the president, robs the public “of our professional judgment and prevents us from communicating our understanding” of the president’s mental state, one psychiatrist said. In other public health news: the next revolution in HIV treatment, Zika testing, ticks and disease, dental services, pollution and more.
“Somehow they believe their knowledge is going to be more powerful than addiction," said Dr. Marvin Seppala, an addiction expert. Meanwhile, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb is looking to tap unlikely sources as allies in the battle against opioids: benefit payers and insurance administrators.
Internet Brands, a company controlled by global investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, will take over the popular medical information website.
The insurer says the upcoming cuts to 10 percent of its workforce is driven by losses to its Obamacare exchange business.
Under the rules set for the bill, supporters needed support from two-thirds of members to pass the bill. Lawmakers voting against it cited opposition from a large group of veterans organizations that called on Congress to reject the bill because it pays for the choice program through cuts in the VA.
Administration officials are defending the posts saying they are pointing out problems with the current health law to the public.
Former Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) says lawmakers are too focused on politics over policy.
Administration and Senate officials pushing for a bill to replace the Affordable Care Act have said that a new $200 billion Medicaid "wraparound" fund would help cushion the changes for low-income people. But a new study suggests that money would last only about two years.
Not even senators seem to know what they'll be voting on Tuesday afternoon, but these media outlets take a crack at explaining what's going on.
Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas) says he blames "some female senators from the Northeast” for the party's failure to pass health care legislation. Though he didn't name them in particular, it may have been a reference to Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), who have both voiced objections to the proposal.
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