Breaking: GOP Bill to Repeal and Replace ObamaCare Stalls as Two More Senators Announce Opposition

• Bill Cannot Pass in Current Form, Dealing Major Legislative Blow to Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump

• For Now, Millions Will Now Be Forced Off Health Care 

The Senate Republicansbill to repeal and “replace ObamaCare was dealt a strong blow Monday evening as two additional Senators announced they will not support it. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) are the latest Republicans to make clear they will not support the bill in its current form.

“The health bill has collapsed with two more G.O.P. senators opposed,” is the alert The New York Times currently has on its homepage. “For now, President Trump’s effort to replace Obamacare is over,” the paper of record reports. 

Add to tonight’s list Senators Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Susan Collins of Maine, and the bill falls sufficiently short of the simple majority threshold needed to begin debate.

It should be noted that, with the exception of Senator Collins, the other three lawmakers oppose the bill largely because it does not go far enough in repealing ObamaCare. 

“This second failure of Trumpcare is proof positive that the core of this bill is unworkable,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement as he hailed Monday night’s events. “Rather than repeating the same failed, partisan process yet again, Republicans should start from scratch and work with Democrats on a bill that lowers premiums, provides long term stability to the markets and improves our health care system.”

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Image by Gage Skidmore via Flickr and a CC license