The Healthcare Debate

In a narrow vote that required VP Pence to cast the tie-breaking vote, the Senate voted on Tuesday to begin debate on a bill that would replace large portions of the Affordable Care Act. That evening the Senate voted down two different versions of the bill, including one that included Ted Cruz’s ‘Freedom Option’ that would allow insurers that offer Obamacare plans to sell policies that are exempt from certain of the law’s mandates. Wednesday, Senators will vote on an Obamacare repeal that Congress passed in 2015 that would roll back the Obamacare mandate and eliminate many of its taxes. The repeal would have a two-year moratorium before taking effect – allowing Congress to craft a replacement for Obamacare in the interim. The bill is not expected to pass. Barring passage of a version of the Republican health care plan or a simple repeal, the GOP is expected to next attempt a ‘skinny repeal’ of Obamacare. This plan would only roll back certain aspects of Obamacare and theoretically, allow the Senate to go to conference with the House where a repeal and replace law could be crafted.

 Written By: Brett Morgan