Possible repeal of Affordable Care Act takes first step
WASHNGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Senate voted 51-48 in favor of beginning a debate on a budget resolution that could overhaul of repeal the Affordable Care Act.
This vote means the Senate will begin 50 hours of debate on a budget measure that would repeal much of the ACA, also known as Obamacare. This step is the first in a two-step process, which could direct congressional committees to craft a budget reconciliation bill, which would include language to repeal much of the ACA.
Provided in more detail, the repeal resolution includes the following:
Reconciliation instructions to authorizing committees so that repeal legislation can move through a fast-track process and can pass with only a simple majority in the Senate, as in the House. These instructions to committees are provided to facilitate immediate action on repeal, with the intent of sending legislation to the new President’s desk as soon as possible.
The resolution provides reconciliation instructions to four authorizing committees — Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce in the House, Finance and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions in the Senate — to achieve at least $1 billion each in deficit reduction over 10 years (fiscal years 2017 through 2026).
The resolution calls for the authorizing committees to report legislation to their Budget Committee by Jan. 27. The legislation will be combined for consideration on the floors of the respective Chambers.
Reserve funds necessary to accommodate legislation to repeal and replace Obamacare. These authorities permit the Budget Committee Chairs to adjust resolution figures as needed to accommodate patient-centered health care reform legislation in the future.
The vote was heavily based on party lines, with Republicans voting in favor of the resolution that would lead to a repeal of the ACA, while Democrats voted against it. The only senator changing party lines was Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who voted against the measure.
President-elect Donald Trump has long said repealing the ACA would be the first thing on his priority list when taking office.
Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee Mike Enzi stated Obamacare has “clearly failed hardworking Americans.”
“Americans face skyrocketing premiums and soaring deductibles,” he said. “Insurers are withdrawing from markets across the country, leaving many families with fewer choices and less access to care than they had before – the opposite of what the law promised. Today, we take the first steps to repair the nation’s broken health care system, removing Washington from the equation and putting control back where it belongs: with patients, their families, and their doctors.”
Meanwhile, President Barack Obama took to Capitol Hill in an effort to save Obamacare. He also asked Democrats to refer to the Republicans’ new plan as “Trumpcare.”