ObamaCare, Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law overhaul, represented in graphic image.
The U.S. Senate early Thursday passed a measure taking the first step toward repealing ObamaCare, the outgoing president’s signature health care law. Voters gave Republicans the White House and control of both the upper and lower houses of Congress to do just that.
The 51-48 vote broke nearly on party lines for what was a non-binding procedural budget vote, though some Democrats in red states have expressed a willingness to work with the GOP majority.
Lawmakers were responding to pressure to move quickly by voters and President-elect Donald J. Trump, who wants to handle ObamaCare, taxes and immigration all within his first 100 days. However, Republicans are debating the best way to repeal and replace the mammoth law, which remains deeply unpopular.
Committee action to write repeal legislation could come to a vote next month. A full replacement would follow.
“We must act quickly to bring relief to the American people,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the budget measure on Friday, though some Republicans in the lower chamber oppose the repeal effort without having a clear plan for replacement.
President-elect Trump said at a news conference on Tuesday that his incoming administration will be unveiling a a plan to both repeal and replace ObamaCare with legislation to “get health care taken care of in this country.”
“ObamaCare is the Democrats problem. We are gonna take the problem off the shelves for them,” President-elect Trump said. “We’re doing them a tremendous service by doing it. We could sit back and let them hang with it. We are doing the Democrats a great service. So as soon as our secretary is approved and gets into the office, we’ll be filing a plan.”
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