When all else fails, kill it.
President Trump tweeted late Monday
that Republicans should “just REPEAL” ObamaCare after two key
Republican Senators announced they would not support the bill, ending
any chance the bill had of passing the Senate.
Republican Senators Mike Lee, of Utah and Jerry
Moran, of Kansas joined Senators Rand Paul, of Kentucky and Susan
Collins of Maine. Republicans hold onto a 52-48 majority and the two
senators’ opposition means the
bill is effectively dead.
“Republicans should just REPEAL failing ObamaCare now
& work on a new Healthcare Plan that will start from a clean slate.
Dems will join in!” Trump tweeted.
Trump appears confident that a straight repeal of
ObamaCare is a shoo-in, but moderate Republicans may feel pressure to
vote against the legislation. It is also unclear how many Democrats
would support the move.
Trump's tweet was in stark contrast to his faith in the Senate just hours before when he predicted the legislation would pass.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., acknowledged the
roadblock and, like Trump, said he plans a repeal vote. McConnell also
mentioned a two-year delay for a substitute.
"Regretfully, it's now apparent that the effort to
repeal and immediately replace the failure of Obamacare will not be
successful," McConnell said in a statement. "So, in the coming days, the
Senate will vote to take up the House bill with the first amendment in
order being what a majority of the Senate has already supported in 2015
and that was vetoed by then-President Obama: a repeal of Obamacare with a
two-year delay to provide for a stable transition period to a
patient-centered health care system that gives Americans access to
quality, affordable care."
It was the second straight failure for McConnell, who
had to cancel a vote on an earlier version of the bill last month when
defeat became inevitable.
Trump failed to rally support for what has been the
GOP's trademark issue for seven years — ever since President Obama and
the Democrats passed the Affordable Care Act in 2010.
Republicans won the White House and full control of
Congress in large part on the basis of their promises to repeal and
replace the health law but have struggled to overcome their deep
internal divisions and deliver.
The Associated Press reported that Democrats "could barely contain their glee."
"This second failure of Trumpcare is proof positive
that the core of this bill is unworkable," Senate Minority Leader Chuck
Schumer of New York said. "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."