U.S. Senators Mike Lee and Jerry Moran have announced they will not support the revised Republican health care bill, making it impossible for the bill to advance. It marks the latest blow to Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare.
Two Republican senators – Susan Collins and Rand Paul – had already expressed their opposition against the Better Care Act, and Monday’s announcement from Lee and Moran means Republicans are short of a majority.
“After conferring with trusted experts regarding the latest version of the Consumer Freedom Amendment, I have decided I cannot support the current version of the Better Care Reconciliation Act,” Senator Lee of Utah said, adding that it doesn’t go far enough in lowering premiums for middle class families.
Senator Moran, a Republican from Kansas, emphasized in a separate statement that he remains committed to repeal and replace Obamacare, but said the Better Care Act fails to address rising health care costs.
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of the Democratic Party called Monday’s news proof that the core of the bill is unworkable. “Rather than repeating the same failed, partisan process yet again, Republicans should start from scratch and work with Democrats on a bill,” he said.
Repealing Obamacare has been one of President Donald Trump’s top priorities, but Republican lawmakers have so far been unable to agree on a replacement. Plans to vote on the bill this week were put on hold when U.S. Senator John McCain took an absence to undergo surgery.
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