Votes held today show the Republicans may still have a chance to push an Affordable Care Act (ACA) change bill through the Senate.
Seven Republican senators, including some who usually stick with other Republicans on major votes, crossed party lines today to vote against Senate Amendment 271, the so-called "skinny" ACA change bill.
Even more Republicans — nine — crossed party lines Tuesday to reject Senate Amendment 270, the "fat" ACA change bill.
But Republican senators stuck together today to block two motions introduced by the Democrats.
Both of the Democrats' motions could have sent the bill at the heart of the debate, H.R. 1628, back to the Senate Finance Committee for changes. One would require the committee to restore funding taken away from Medicaid, and one would change the bill to add protection for people with disabilities. The motions would, in effect, suspend debate on efforts to change the ACA. All Republicans voted against the Medicaid-related "motion to commit." All 51 Republicans who voted on the disability-related motion voted against that motion.
A list of proposed, approved and rejected amendments is available here.
Budget Reconciliation
Republicans hold just 52 seats in the Senate. They need just 51 votes to pass budget bills and amendments through the Senate, and 60 votes to pass ordinary bills and amendments.
Republican opponents of the ACA need to meet complicated Senate budget measure consideration requirements to use the budget reconciliation process. They also have to contend with a conflict between Republican senators who want to maximize the help available to low-income people and people with health problems, and the views of Republican senators who care more about minimizing government involvement in paying for health care.
S.A. 267
