The Senate won't expect any help from Democrats as it attempts to pass a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told the Associated Press.
"We don’t anticipate any Democratic help at all, so it will be a simple majority vote situation," McConnell said Saturday, referring to special budget rules that prevent Democrats from filibustering the legislation by passing the bill. Republicans can pass the bill with a slim 52-48 majority by only relying on its party, but doing so could prohibit certain things from being included in the bill.
The House passed the American Healthcare Act on Thursday, 217-123, a bill which would repeal certain parts of Obamacare including terminating fines on people who don’t purchase policies and erasing taxes on health industry businesses and people with higher earnings.
With a slim majority, McConnell can only afford to lose two votes from his party. And some GOP senators are saying the House bill will be looked at in depth before it comes to a vote.
The House bill "will be modified here if for no other reason than the rules, the reconciliation rules, would require it," Sen. Republican Whip John Cornyn said this week.
Republican Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), said Sunday that the Senate will wait for a new score from the Congressional Budget Office before proceeding with a vote.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.