Senate GOP Delays Vote On Health Care Bill

Senate Republicans will delay voting on a replacement bill for the Affordable Care Act until after the July 4 recess.

The GOP released its plan for health care reform last week with the expectation to vote on the measure by the end of this week. But a lack of support from moderate and conservative
Republicans led to the decision to delay even debating the bill. Among the sticking points is a proposal to cap federal spending on Medicaid.

On Monday, the Congressional Budget Office announced that the Senate's proposal to repeal the Affordable Care Act would leave 22 million more Americans uninsured over the next 10 years.

Beltway media and senators weighed in on the surprising delay:

Trump/McConnell dont have the votes, but not yet at point where Trump/Ryan pulled plug on health care bill March 24 just before vote.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 27, 2017

Just came from WH. @realDonaldTrump is open to making bill better. Is Senate leadership?

— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) June 27, 2017

John Cornyn, who said pre-lunch vote would be tomorrow says as he leaves lunch: "It's a conversation & we haven't finished our conversation"

— MJ Lee (@mj_lee) June 27, 2017

McConnell going with time-tested strategy of dramatically pulling vote so lawmakers can quietly cut deal as media debate crazy Trump tweets

— Philip Klein (@philipaklein) June 27, 2017

Susan Rupe is managing editor for InsuranceNewsNet. She formerly served as communications director for an insurance agents' association and was an award-winning newspaper reporter and editor. Contact her at [email protected].