The Senate rejected a key proposal repealing and replacing ObamaCare on Tuesday night as senators start a dayslong debate on healthcare.
Senators voted 43-57 on a procedural hurdle for the measure that included the GOP's repeal and a replace bill, the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), as well as proposals from Sens. Ted Cruz
Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzThe Hill's 12:30 Report — Sponsored by NSSF — Trump arrives for tense G-7 summit Jeb Bush: 'I can't imagine having to attack someone to make yourself look strong' Congress should take a lesson on civility from the Supreme Court MORE (R-Texas) and Rob Portman
Robert (Rob) Jones PortmanLawmakers reach deal on bill to crack down on synthetic opioid imports McConnell will ask Cornyn to stay on GOP leadership team GOP Senate report says Obama officials gave Iran access to US financial system MORE (R-Ohio).
Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzThe Hill's 12:30 Report — Sponsored by NSSF — Trump arrives for tense G-7 summit Jeb Bush: 'I can't imagine having to attack someone to make yourself look strong' Congress should take a lesson on civility from the Supreme Court MORE (R-Texas) and Rob PortmanRobert (Rob) Jones PortmanLawmakers reach deal on bill to crack down on synthetic opioid imports McConnell will ask Cornyn to stay on GOP leadership team GOP Senate report says Obama officials gave Iran access to US financial system MORE (R-Ohio). GOP Sens. Susan Collins
Susan Margaret CollinsOvernight Health Care — Sponsored by PCMA — DOJ move against ObamaCare sets off frenzy Lawmakers have sights on middlemen blamed for rising drug costs Hillicon Valley: Deal reached on ZTE, but lawmakers look to block it | New encryption bill | Dems push Ryan for net neutrality vote | Google vows it won't use AI for weapons MORE (Maine), Bob Corker
Robert (Bob) Phillips CorkerGOP senators want NAFTA deal from Trump by Labor Day The Hill's 12:30 Report — Sponsored by NSSF — GOP staves off immigration revolt, for now | US reaches deal on ZTE Flake lashes out at Trump: We're at the beginning 'of a full-scale trade war' MORE (Tenn.), Tom Cotton
Thomas (Tom) Bryant CottonHillicon Valley: Deal reached on ZTE, but lawmakers look to block it | New encryption bill | Dems push Ryan for net neutrality vote | Google vows it won't use AI for weapons Overnight Defense: Trump hopes to normalize relations with North Korea | Senate defense bill would limit help for Saudis in Yemen | US to honor temporary Taliban ceasefire Overnight Finance: US reaches deal with ZTE | Lawmakers look to block it | Trump blasts Macron, Trudeau ahead of G-7 | Mexico files WTO complaint MORE (Ark.), Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Olin GrahamGraham 'not buying' Giuliani claim that Mueller is trying to frame president The Hill's Morning Report — Sponsored by PhRMA — Some GOP lawmakers reject script on Trump HSAs expansion is a key to health care freedom MORE (S.C.), Dean Heller
Dean Arthur HellerMcConnell cancels Senate's August recess The Hill's 12:30 Report — Sponsored by NSSF — Trump reignites anthem war by canceling Eagles visit Kennedy retirement rumors shift into overdrive MORE (Nev.), Mike Lee
Michael (Mike) Shumway LeeOvernight Finance: Senators introduce bill to curb Trump's tariff authority | McConnell calls it 'exercise in futility' | Kudlow warns WTO won't dictate policy | Mulvaney feud with consumer advocates deepens Overnight Defense: Senators offer bill to curb Trump's tariff power | Bill could get vote in defense bill debate | House panel unveils 4.6B Pentagon spending bill | Mattis says tariffs won't hurt NATO ties Senators introduce bill to curb Trump's tariff authority MORE (Utah), Jerry Moran
Gerald (Jerry) MoranFormer USA Gymnastics CEO pleads Fifth at hearing GOP, Trump at odds on pardon power Lawmakers request meeting with Amtrak CEO over funding for route MORE (Kan.), Lisa Murkowski
Lisa Ann MurkowskiHillicon Valley: Deal reached on ZTE, but lawmakers look to block it | New encryption bill | Dems push Ryan for net neutrality vote | Google vows it won't use AI for weapons Senate Dems press Ryan to hold net neutrality vote McConnell will ask Cornyn to stay on GOP leadership team MORE (Alaska) and Rand Paul
Randal (Rand) Howard PaulLegislation legalizing hemp included in Senate farm bill House passes Trump's plan to claw back billion in spending Overnight Defense: Trump hopes to normalize relations with North Korea | Senate defense bill would limit help for Saudis in Yemen | US to honor temporary Taliban ceasefire MORE (Ky.) voted against the repeal-and-replace proposal on the procedural hurdle. No Democrats voted for it.
Susan Margaret CollinsOvernight Health Care — Sponsored by PCMA — DOJ move against ObamaCare sets off frenzy Lawmakers have sights on middlemen blamed for rising drug costs Hillicon Valley: Deal reached on ZTE, but lawmakers look to block it | New encryption bill | Dems push Ryan for net neutrality vote | Google vows it won't use AI for weapons MORE (Maine), Bob CorkerRobert (Bob) Phillips CorkerGOP senators want NAFTA deal from Trump by Labor Day The Hill's 12:30 Report — Sponsored by NSSF — GOP staves off immigration revolt, for now | US reaches deal on ZTE Flake lashes out at Trump: We're at the beginning 'of a full-scale trade war' MORE (Tenn.), Tom CottonThomas (Tom) Bryant CottonHillicon Valley: Deal reached on ZTE, but lawmakers look to block it | New encryption bill | Dems push Ryan for net neutrality vote | Google vows it won't use AI for weapons Overnight Defense: Trump hopes to normalize relations with North Korea | Senate defense bill would limit help for Saudis in Yemen | US to honor temporary Taliban ceasefire Overnight Finance: US reaches deal with ZTE | Lawmakers look to block it | Trump blasts Macron, Trudeau ahead of G-7 | Mexico files WTO complaint MORE (Ark.), Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamGraham 'not buying' Giuliani claim that Mueller is trying to frame president The Hill's Morning Report — Sponsored by PhRMA — Some GOP lawmakers reject script on Trump HSAs expansion is a key to health care freedom MORE (S.C.), Dean HellerDean Arthur HellerMcConnell cancels Senate's August recess The Hill's 12:30 Report — Sponsored by NSSF — Trump reignites anthem war by canceling Eagles visit Kennedy retirement rumors shift into overdrive MORE (Nev.), Mike LeeMichael (Mike) Shumway LeeOvernight Finance: Senators introduce bill to curb Trump's tariff authority | McConnell calls it 'exercise in futility' | Kudlow warns WTO won't dictate policy | Mulvaney feud with consumer advocates deepens Overnight Defense: Senators offer bill to curb Trump's tariff power | Bill could get vote in defense bill debate | House panel unveils 4.6B Pentagon spending bill | Mattis says tariffs won't hurt NATO ties Senators introduce bill to curb Trump's tariff authority MORE (Utah), Jerry MoranGerald (Jerry) MoranFormer USA Gymnastics CEO pleads Fifth at hearing GOP, Trump at odds on pardon power Lawmakers request meeting with Amtrak CEO over funding for route MORE (Kan.), Lisa MurkowskiLisa Ann MurkowskiHillicon Valley: Deal reached on ZTE, but lawmakers look to block it | New encryption bill | Dems push Ryan for net neutrality vote | Google vows it won't use AI for weapons Senate Dems press Ryan to hold net neutrality vote McConnell will ask Cornyn to stay on GOP leadership team MORE (Alaska) and Rand PaulRandal (Rand) Howard PaulLegislation legalizing hemp included in Senate farm bill House passes Trump's plan to claw back billion in spending Overnight Defense: Trump hopes to normalize relations with North Korea | Senate defense bill would limit help for Saudis in Yemen | US to honor temporary Taliban ceasefire MORE (Ky.) voted against the repeal-and-replace proposal on the procedural hurdle. No Democrats voted for it. ADVERTISEMENT
But it was widely expected to fall short of the 60 votes it needed because the Congressional Budget Office didn't analyze either the Cruz or Portman proposal that was packaged in with the BCRA.
Tuesday night's vote doesn't prevent GOP leadership from offering another repeal-and-replace amendment or another version of BCRA.
It could also help GOP leadership get rank-and-file senators on the record as they try to figure out a path forward.
A vote on an amendment that would repeal much of ObamaCare is expected on Wednesday.
Cruz acknowledged ahead of the late-night vote that the amendment wasn't likely to be approved, but he appeared optimistic that Republicans would be able to get to an agreement before a final vote this week.
"I will say the bill before the Senate ... is not likely to pass tonight but I believe at the end of the process the contours within it are likely to be what we enact, at least the general outlines," Cruz said from the Senate floor ahead of the vote.
Cruz said he expects his amendment to end up in the final version of the healthcare bill.
"I believe we will see the consumer freedom amendment in the legislation that is ultimately enacted," he said.
Murkowski was greeted by protestors outside the Capitol who chanted "stay strong Lisa."
Asked whether she would support a "skinny repeal" bill, she said it's not clear what it would entail.
"I don't know that any of us have defined what that might be."
Cruz's provision would allow insurance companies to sell plans that did not meet ObamaCare's requirements, as long as they also offered plans that did.
Portman's, meanwhile, would aim to lower insurance costs for individuals in Medicaid expansion states, like Ohio, but could also apply to other low-income Americans.
The provision would add $100 billion to the bill's state stability fund to help people who might lose the coverage they got under ObamaCare's Medicaid expansion. These funds could help cover out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and copays.
Portman said he "worked with the president, vice president and administrative officials" to "improve this bill further to help out low-income Ohioans."
