Leader McConnell Issues Statement on Obamacare Repeal Vote

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., issued the following floor remarks regarding the Senate Republican effort to repeal and replace Obamacare:

"This is clearly a disappointing moment. From skyrocketing costs to plummeting choices and collapsing markets, our constituents have suffered through an awful lot under Obamacare. We thought they deserved better. It's why I, and many of my colleagues, did as we promised and voted to repeal this failed law. We told our constituents we would vote that way. When the moment came, most of us did. We kept our commitments. We worked hard -- and everybody on this side can certainly attest to the fact that we worked really hard -- to try to develop a consensus for a better way forward. And I want to thank everybody in this Conference for the endless amount of time that they spent trying to achieve a consensus to go forward. I also want to thank the president and the vice president who couldn't have been more involved or more helpful.

"So yes, this is a disappointment. A disappointment indeed. Our friends over in the House, we thank them as well. I regret that our efforts were simply not enough this time.

"I imagine many of our colleagues on the other side are celebrating, probably pretty happy about all of this. But the American people are hurting and they need relief. Our friends on the other side decided early on that they did not want to engage with us in a serious way to help those suffering under Obamacare. They did everything they could to prevent the Senate from providing a better way forward including such things as reading amendments for endless amounts of time. Such things as holding up nominations for key positions in the administration because they were unhappy that we were trying to find a way to something better than Obamacare. So I expect that they are pretty satisfied tonight. I regret to say that they succeeded in that effort.

"Now I think it's appropriate to ask, what are their ideas? It'll be interesting to see what they suggest as the way forward. For myself I can say -- and I bet I'm pretty safe in saying for most on this side of the aisle -- that bailing out insurance companies with no thought of any kind of reform, is not something I want to be part of. And I suspect there are not many folks over here that are interested in that. But it'll be interesting to see what they have in mind.

"Quadrupling down on the failures of Obamacare with 'single payer' -- we had vote a little earlier thanks to the Senator from Montana-- almost everybody voted present. Apparently, they didn't want to make a decision about whether they were for or against socialized medicine. A government takeover of everything. European health care. Only four of them weren't afraid to say they didn't think that was a good idea. Maybe that's what they want to offer. We will be happy to have that debate with the American people. So, it's time for our friends on the other side to tell us what they have in mind. And we'll see how the American people feel about their ideas.

"So, I regret that we're here, but I want to say again that I'm proud of the vote I cast tonight. It's consistent with what we told the American people we'd try to accomplish in four straight elections if they gave us the chance. I want to thank all of my colleagues on this side of the aisle for everything they did to try and keep that commitment. What we tried to accomplish for the American people was the right thing for the country. And our only regret tonight is that we didn't achieve what we had hoped to accomplish. I think the American people are going to regret that we couldn't find a better way forward. And as I said, we look forward to our colleagues on the other side suggesting what they have in mind."