After a long, marathon vote-a-rama in the Senate tonight, Republicans managed to get their resolution to begin repeal of the Affordable Care Act passed on a vote of 51-48. Senator Dianne Feinstein was absent because she is having pacemaker surgery. Senator Jeff Sessions slithered in toward the end to cast the 51st vote.
Before the vote on the resolution, votes were held on many amendments ahead of the final vote. All were defeated, including one that would have preserved the ban on pre-existing condition exclusions, children's dental and vision insurance, and coverage of birth control pills for women. That doesn't mean they're gone. It just means that Dems couldn't get Republicans to commit to preserving those provisions in their repeal bills.
But here is what you should know. Every Democratic Senator stood up before their vote and protested over the objections of the chair. Every. One. Heidi Heitkamp was in tears; Joe Manchin was strong. Ron Wyden was lit, as was Chris Murphy. Senator Angus King said it violated his conscience to vote for such a thing.For no real reason other than trying to destroy the legacy of the last popularly elected (twice) president, this collection of privileged*, wealthy shitholes is willing to strip health insurance from more than 20 million Americans. Replacement? These vicious clowns have no idea what to do, except to keep posturing to their knuckle- dragging base (some of whom are benefitting from Obamacare and don't even know it).
It's good to see Democratic solidarity up to this point. It has to continue.
* 'Nuff said:
Glad he's been stabilized, as reported, and that he has excellent insurance. https://t.co/WDEwfAZlBQ— Brian Beutler (@brianbeutler) January 12, 2017
Making America Great Again looks a lot like tax breaks for the rich while everyone else suffers. https://t.co/eOw7pKKvhj— Schooley (@Rschooley) January 12, 2017
