Update on Senate Bill

from National Family Voices:

The Senate took up the “Motion to Proceed” to the health care legislation (technically, the House–passed bill) this afternoon, leaving the Senators’ votes at 50-50. Vice-President Pence provided the tie-breaking vote.

Now there will be 20 hours of debate followed by a “vote-a-rama” during which Senators can offer an unlimited number of amendments.  At this point we expect votes on at least two amendments – one that would repeal major parts of the Affordable Care Act in two years (the Obamacare Repeal Reconciliation Act, being considered right now) and one that would repeal parts of the ACA and replace them with some version of the Senate’s Better Care Reconciliation Act, including Medicaid caps and cuts.  Everything is up in the air, but it is expected that both of these will fail and that ultimately a “skinny bill” will pass and be taken to conference with the House.  The “skinny bill” would repeal the ACA’s individual and employer mandates and medical device tax.  It is not expected that it would include any Medicaid provisions.

Everyone is tired but we need to keep speaking up against these bills and other detrimental amendments during the next few days.  It is still possible to keep any bill – even a “skinny bill” – from passing the Senate.  So please keep calling, tweeting, and emailing your Senators, and stay tuned!