Senate Approves Measure to Repeal Parts of Obamacare and Cut Funding to

The Senate voted 52 to 47 in favor of the bill known as the Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act, with the vote largely coming down along party lines. However, the $450 million Planned Parenthood receives in federal funding is blocked by the Hyde Amendment from being used for abortion.

Congress has voted dozens of times to repeal or weaken the health law and repeatedly against Planned Parenthood’s funding.

Still, even if the bill passes the House of Representatives, it would face a certain veto at the hands of President Barack Obama once it reaches his desk. Minority Leader Harry Reid said Republicans are “obsessed” with its repeal and need to stop “haranguing” over the issue.

“He can defend a status quo that’s failed the middle class by vetoing the bill, or he can work toward a new beginning and better care by signing it”, McConnell said.

Republicans blame the Affordable Care Act for surging health care costs and insurers abandoning some markets.

The bill passed by the Senate would end financial penalties for individuals and companies that don’t follow the law’s requirement that they buy insurance for themselves and their workers.

In light of Obama’s veto threat, the process of considering the bill was largely seen as symbolic and included show votes on Planned Parenthood funding and gun control.

“Despite all the promises made by the Obama administration, this flawed law has made health care less accessible and more expensive for families and businesses throughout Mississippi”.

Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama (R) was quoted by NPR as saying that there’s still value in approving the bill in both parts of Congress to “let him know – the president – and others that there’s a big division in this country, and a lot of us don’t like it, and the American people don’t like it”.

Planned Parenthood has become the center of controversy after the release of a series of undercover investigative video reports by the citizen journalist group Center for Medical Progress. “With this victory in the Senate, and guaranteed passage in the House, we have achieved an unprecedented political victory!” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. They do not deserve a dime of taxpayer money. Obama’s law was enacted five years ago; Republicans haven’t produced a detailed proposal to replace it. Jon Tester of Montana, who heads the Senate Democratic campaign committee, said of the GOP’s failure to propose an alternative. “What they got instead was the cold shoulder of indifference”.

Republicans argued that voters were on their side.

Earlier this week, Hatch delivered a floor speech making the case for repealing the President’s healthcare law.