Senate vote fails to repeal, replace Obamacare

New York [U.S.A.], July 27 (ANI): The Senate has defeated the proposal by Republicans to repeal much of former President Barack Obama's health care law 'Obamacare' and replace it with a more restrictive plan.

The vote was 45-55, with seven Republicans Shelly Moore Capito of West Virginia, Susan Collins of Maine, Dean Heller of Nevada, Rob Portman of Ohio, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and John McCain of Arizona, opposing the measure.

It was the Senate's consecutive second failure in 24 hours to repeal the 2010 Obamacare that has provided health insurance to about 20 million people.

The main aim of Majority leader Mitch McConnell is to get 50 Republicans to back a final bill.

Republican senators have been deliberating on the amendments to reach an ultimate deal on health care reform and dismantle Obamacare.

The first order of business Wednesday afternoon was the full repeal amendment that Congress passed in 2015 and was vetoed by former President Barack Obama.

That proposal would significantly gut the Affordable Care Act by repealing its unpopular individual and employer mandates, ending Medicaid expansion and rolling back a slew of the law's taxes, the CNN reported.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates the proposal would result 32 million more uninsured over the next decade.

Three GOP senators had already announced they wouldn't support repeal-only.

Alexander, the chairman of the Senate's health committee, predicted he didn't

"think there are 40 votes to repeal" without a replacement.

But conservatives ramped up pressure for GOP senators to support the proposal, noting Senate Republicans passed a repeal bill in 2015 when they knew then-President Obama would veto it.

"Republicans promised to repeal ObamaCare, and as we move forward in this process, I urge them to join me in supporting a clean repeal of as much of this disastrous law as possible," Paul said ahead of the vote.(ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI