Senate GOP setting up ‘Obamacare’ vote on highway bill
Jul 24, 2015, 7:18 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republican leaders announced plans Friday to use a must-pass highway bill to try to overturn President Barack Obama’s health care law, in the latest GOP assault on “Obamacare.”
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said on the Senate floor “nearly every Republican wants” a full repeal of the law, and he introduced an amendment to the highway bill to do just that. A vote was set for Sunday.
The move was met with immediate derision from Democrats in the wake of last month’s Supreme Court ruling upholding central elements of the law.
“Again, the majority leader has cynically filed another repeal of Obama health care legislation,” Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said. “I hope the Senate doesn’t try to catch up with the House as to how many times they’re going to try to repeal that.”
Even with the Senate under Republican control McConnell’s amendment is unlikely to reach the 60-vote threshold needed. Republicans control 54 seats in the Senate.
And any such legislation would be sure to be vetoed by Obama. The House has voted more than 50 times to repeal the health law in full or in part.
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