Senate Votes to Repeal ObamaCare

The White House was quick to issue a veto threat and make sure that this legislation is DOA, “The Administration strongly opposes Senate passage of the Senate amendment to H.R. 3762”. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican with a libertarian bent – and a presidential candidate – offered an amendment that would have created concealed-carry permits for Washington, D.C., and given national reciprocity to all concealed-carry permits.

Though Congress’ argument to strip funding from Planned Parenthood centers on the organization’s abortion services, federal funding is already prohibited from paying for abortions.

Republicans are using a budget process called “reconciliation”, which allows them to pass the bill based on a majority vote.

USA Today reported that Senate Republicans have attempted over a dozen times to repeal Obamacare, but they have been unable to attain the 60 votes needed to overcome Democratic filibusters.

“It’s defined by failure”, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said of the law, blaming it for rising medical costs and citing problems encountered by Kentuckians. “Its negative effects are often felt in the most personal and visceral ways”.

Democrats proposed a handful of amendments aimed at bolstering gun control, including a proposal to expand background checks and another measure that would have prohibited people on the federal terrorism watch list from purchasing guns and explosives.

Collins, who felt the Republican-backed measure went too far, joined with Kirk and fellow moderate Lisa Murkowski of Alaska on Thursday to sponsor an amendment that would have preserved federal funding for Planned Parenthood organizations.

Democrats say repeal would destroy a program that has reduced the number of uninsured Americans by around 16 million, let families’ policies cover children until age 26 and guarantees coverage for people with pre-existing illnesses. Last year, they conducted 487,000 breast exams and more than 4 million tests and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases.

WASHINGTON (AP) – Senate Republicans have overwhelmed Democrats in a vote to end Planned Parenthood’s federal funding.

Both Maine senators said the bill unfairly targets Planned Parenthood, which operates hundreds of clinics across the country. We shouldn’t be talking about defunding Planned Parenthood at all, but the GOP has managed to introduce that notion into the political consciousness, to suggest that it might be possible in the future. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who has been relentless in his efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, said the vote represented a “significant step towards repealing every word of Obamacare”. Bozek said in an email.

Update at 8:40 p.m. ET: Senate passed legislation to defund Planned Parenthood and repeal the Affordable Care Act, with a 52-47 vote.

Toomey, when asked whether he was concerned about repealing the Medicaid expansion, replied: “I’ve been on record in favor of completely repealing Obamacare for a long time and I’ve not changed my opinion on that”.