Senate Republicans had one job to do . . . Repeal ObamaCare!
In every election cycle since 2010 Republican politicians promised their base to do just that.
First, there were those who voted against an amendment on Wednesday that was nearly identical to the 2015 repeal bill passed by the Senate and vetoed by President Obama.
Seven Republicans voted against this ObamaCare repeal amendment offered by Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) — even though six of them voted for this amendment just 18-months ago.
Those Senators are:
1) Lamar Alexander (Tennessee)
2) Shelley Moore Capito (West Virginia)
3) Dean Heller (Nevada)
4) John McCain (Arizona)
5) Lisa Murkowski (Alaska)
6) Rob Portman (Ohio)
The seventh was the ultimate RINO, Susan Collins (Maine), who as Renewed Right pointed out before, even President Trump had given up lobbying on ObamaCare repeal.
But last night’s vote was the ultimate betrayal of the Republican base.
In a last ditch effort to pass something and send the House-passed bill to a conference committee with the House, the Senate took up the so-called “skinny” repeal bill.
Ultimately, this bill eliminated the despised individual mandate, mostly repealed the employer mandate, a one-year defunding of Planned Parenthood, more money for community health centers, and a provision making ACA’s innovation waivers more flexible.
But even this stripped down version of ObamaCare repeal couldn’t get the votes of these three Senators – including two turncoats who were just re-elected promising to repeal ObamaCare.
Again, Susan Collins was no surprise.
But then there was Lisa Murkowski and John McCain.
McCain was the real shock to those watching at home.
After flying to Washington after having brain surgery to cast his vote to allow the Senate to begin debating ObamaCare repeal, his vote was the final one to sink the “skinny repeal.”
Following Thursday’s vote, it’s hard to see where the Senate goes from here on ObamaCare repeal.
President Trump tweeted:
3 Republicans and 48 Democrats let the American people down. As I said from the beginning, let ObamaCare implode, then deal. Watch!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 28, 2017
What do you think will happen?
Should Congress just do nothing and let ObamaCare collapse on itself?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.