Doomed Health Care Bill Collapses As GOP Abandons Vote
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WASHINGTON D.C. (CBSMiami) – The latest Senate Republican effort to replace and repeal Obamacare is dead.
Tuesday afternoon, Senate Republicans met in a closed session to discuss what to do next and when they emerged, Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona said they will not vote on the last-ditch effort to overturn the Affordable Care Act.
The setback marks the end of the latest drive to overturn the law, a promise the GOP has made to voters for seven years.
President Trump slammed Republican holdouts who oppose the GOP healthcare bill, acknowledging it may not pass this week as planned.
"At some point, there will be a repeal and replace, but we'll see whether or not that point is now or whether it will be shortly thereafter. But we are disappointed at certain so-called Republicans," said President Trump.
On Monday, at least four GOP Senators said they could not support the revision to the Graham-Cassidy proposal, effectively killing it.
Senator Susan Collins of Maine joined Senators John McCain, Rand Paul and Ted Cruz.
Collins pointed to the bill's massive cuts to Medicaid.
"It would have changed the program in a way that would have put healthcare at risk for some of our most vulnerable citizens," said Sen. Collins.
House Speaker Paul Ryan said he's disappointed the Senate failed to deliver.
"We're a little frustrated that the Senate has not acted on, on a promise-- health care," said Ryan.
Democrats vowed to continue their fight to keep Obamacare.
"The people on the other side are treating this like a chess game. This is peoples' lives," said Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan.
Republicans had until Saturday to gather the 51 votes they need to pass the legislation before a rule allowing a simple majority expires but now there won't be any vote at all.
There is no Democratic support and three "no" votes from Republicans effectively killed the bill. Republicans control 52 Senate seats.
