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THE US SENATE has voted to proceed with a debate on Republican plans to repeal Barack Obama’s healthcare reforms, thanks to a tie-breaking vote on the divisive issue from Vice President Mike Pence.
The vote was a victory for President Donald Trump, who had warned his party’s senators that they would face strong repercussions if they failed to advance the measure, which has been stuck in Congress for months.
Senator John McCain, who announced last week he is suffering from brain cancer, cast a vote for the measure, leaving the total at 50-50. Pence broke the tie, as the US Constitution calls on him to do in the case of a tie.
McCain received a standing ovation from his colleagues as he entered the chamber.
Despite voting for the plan backed by the President, who called the vote a “big step”, McCain delivered a strong rebuke of the commander-in-chief.
The 80-year-old McCain had a visible scar above his left eye after doctors removed a blood clot earlier this month. Days after the surgery, the senator disclosed that he had a brain tumour and had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.
McCain said in his speech that the Senate’s branch of government is as important as the President’s and that senators are not subservient to the President’s wishes.
“Stop listening to the bombastic loudmouths on the radio, television and Internet. To hell with them. They don’t want anything done for the public good. Our incapacity is their livelihood.
“Let’s trust each other. Let’s return to regular order. We’ve been spinning our wheels on too many important issues because we keep trying to find a way to win without help from across the aisle.
“Whether or not we are of the same party, we are not the president’s subordinates. We are his equal!”
Many on Twitter, however, have pointed out that McCain made the speech before voting for a measure that could see millions lose the health insurance coverage, despite his insistence that he won’t vote for the current repeal-and-replace plan.
The passage of the motion to proceed opens the door for 20 hours of debate on the issue, before amendments are voted on.
If those amendments pass, the bill to repeal Barack Obama’s signature legislative achievement will move forward to final amendments, a final vote and a conference with the House of Representatives.
Like legislation Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell crafted mostly behind closed doors — and has since revised — it would eliminate Obama’s tax penalties on people not buying policies, cut Medicaid, erase many of the law’s tax boosts and provide less generous health care subsidies for consumers.
It also averted what would have been a blistering defeat for a party divided between fervent conservatives demanding the evisceration of Obama’s statute and centrists intent on not pulling coverage away from millions of Americans.
Obama’s law was enacted in 2010 over unanimous Republican opposition.
Since then, its expansion of Medicaid and creation of federal insurance marketplaces has produced 20 million fewer uninsured people.
It’s also provided protections that require insurers to provide robust coverage to all, cap consumers’ annual and lifetime expenditures and ensure that people with serious medical conditions pay the same premiums as the healthy.
With AFP and AP
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Mc Cain has deep pockets and could write a check for his medical bill
He has assisted in closing the door on less fortunate than himself .
Should have spent his toothless speech time looking at himself in the bathroom mirror before he voted .
@Quentin Moriarty: This is better:
Donald Trump working on ‘big’ UK trade deal, takes a swipe at EU https://www.rt.com/uk/397463-trump-trade-brexit-eu/
@gregory: In that article Trump criticised the EU for being “too protectionist”, he has absolutely no shame. The only trade deal that the U.K. will get from talks with him will be the trade deal you have when you’re not having a trade deal
@Boganity: Ha ha, he’s a gas man alright. I’d say Merkel is out of her mind about what to do with him!!
@Quentin Moriarty: Well, the majority of people voted for him to make exactly that happen. They want Obamacare be repealed. Go figure..
@Boganity: Trump is happy with the UK as long as they keep buying the trident missiles and aircraft for the new aircraft carriers. Thoroughly self centred at keeping ‘America first’ at every turn.
Brexit means Brexit, means America first.
@psychiatrist: The majority of people did not vote for him, he’s just president thanks to the undemocratic quango of the electoral college
@gregory: bless, Trump tweets and the Russian government posts an article about it. Lol
Amazing the people in power who don’t have too pay for Medicare and get the best plan’s for FREE block it for people who can barely survive. Before anyone says anything we can be sure TD’s and Senators get good deals on their Healthcare plans here also, even if they don’t they can well afford it.
Not sure what you’re trying to say there Mick ?
God bless America ,bring me your weary and downtrodden ?
@FlopFlipU: where it’s easier than get a gun than health care
It’s about time to see the back of Obama care. I went from paying $650 a month to $1700 a month and less coverage. Liberals in Ireland that talk on here about something they no nothing about. I was glade to see the back of Obama and I certainly will be happy to see the back of Obama care
@kieran kelly: this is pure theatrics it won’t get through for one simple reason: in the end politicians always vote for self interest
@kieran kelly: My guess is that you can afford the increase without too much difficulty.
@Nick Caffrey: and why should I pay for any illegal or people that choose to be on welfare instead of getting a job. My tax dollars are for the better good of the country and not to be used on the lazy in the country.
The United States is the greatest country in the world. Work hard and you’ll make it. Families on welfare for 4-5 generations is not my problem.
@Nick Caffrey: he’s backing self interest too and has no empathy for his fellow country men and women who will have no cover. God Bless America, I’m all right f*ck everyone else !
Sorry Nick meant to tag kieran kelly not you
@kieran kelly: you live in the USA you only pay a token amount in tax. All your services are paid for by sovereign debt owned mostly by the Chinese.
@kieran kelly: And what will your health insurance be, once it’s gone? The state surely don’t care.
@kieran kelly: .. “the greatest nuts house in the world” would be more accurate.
@kieran kelly: You will be getting a big surprise if “trump”care” becomes law, not a nice one.
Undocumented immigrants contribute a huge amount to the Social Security even though they are not eligible to receive any..And the biggest welfare wh0r.es in the US are the big corporations,and they would be ‘closely’ followed by the middle classes…
“If” the ACA & Medicaid gets cut,can you tell us what will happen to the nonprofit hospitals in the US ? Just curious to see your answer to that question :)
@kieran kelly: Don’t ever come home so. You wouldn’t be able to have the extra eleven hundred in cash for healthcare as the tax man will have already taken it off you so it will be up to you to scrape it together. As for third generation families not working pfftt we’ve got them here too
@kieran kelly: a silver plan in Ohio (the only state mentioned in your profile) for a single non-smoking 30 year old would cost $267 per month and that’s with an income about é the 400% threshold which means that’s the full amount the person pays, no financial help.
@Dave O Keeffe: also, when were you paying $650 a month?
There are 52 Republican Senators – who are the 2 who voted against ?
@Brinster: Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski
@Dave O Keeffe: In politics always back self interest because it’s looking after you: the two who’s constituents will be most effected, with no other options for health insurance.
The senate votes to have a debate. Trump is winning bigly!
@Reg: ah yes, but he did just about win, and once again it was not due to the number of those eligible to vote that were on his side
Críost, tá sé tinn ar fad. Le cúnamh Dé beidh sé sláintiúil go luath.
Níl an Plean Trump go hiontach ar bith. I ndáiríre, tá sé uafásach. Ceapann daoine sa Páirtí Poblachta go bhfuil sé olc freisin.
Under Yobamacare the national debt tripled while military spending decreased.
@Joe Caulfield: Prove it please any facts?
@Ossi Fritsche: don’t waste your time. He’s just an angry snowflake full of alt-right catchphrases and absolutely nothing to back up his claims.
@Ossi Fritsche: I just gave you the facts.
@Joe Caulfield: no you just said some s@1t with no reference to sources. Duh!
Thanks for those alternate facts Joe, we’ll file them with the rest and laugh at them later
@Joe Caulfield: military spending in the USA is far, far above the military spending of any other country on the planet. What is your point?
@Joe Caulfield : When Obama came to power,can you tell us a wee story about the economy that he inherited.Poor pet has selective amnesia :)
Obamacare has been a disaster…
@rory2u: Really and can you explain how Obamacare was a disaster? Facts and figures would be nice.
@rory2u: why because it gave healthcare to those who had none and no options to get any ?
@rory2u: Yeah,it was much better before “Obamacare” came into law, where you had premiums going down each year..Oh wait..
Bravo John McCain, leaving your cancer treatment to ensure millions get excluded from theirs. What a horrendous legacy to leave – voting to kill off people too poor to afford treatment… But that’s Republicans for you!
@DaisyChainsaw: talking out of your ass again Daisy
@kieran kelly: If anyone has been talking out of their ass on here,it has been you :)
@DaisyChainsaw: Would Irish Republicans be any different, I doubt it.
They need to “win” a vote to have a debate and then more votes again!?
This won’t pass. The idea that they can agree on enough to get the 50 votes they need is nonsense. Then they will have to try and reconcile this Senate bill with the House bill. Can’t see that happening.
Of course, tax reform and infrastructure become more difficult without this healthcare bill. That’s probably why they will go right to the end with this. But it will be an unhappy ending for Trump.
Any chance that they’ll stop listening to the bombastic loudmouth currently infesting the White House?
Try saying that to a sociopath?
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