Jake Jones
Meet The GOP Choice To Replace Chaffetz As House Oversight Chair
Rep. Trey Gowdy is a former prosecutor and is already a member of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
LEARN MOREJune 11, 2017
Senate Republicans are greasing the wheels for the party's health care replacement plan.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell invoked Senate Rule 14 on Wednesday. That would allow the American Health Care Act — which barely passed the House on May 4 — to bypass Senate committees and go straight to a floor vote without a debate.
And since the AHCA is technically a budget reconciliation bill, Democrats can't filibuster. The bill could pass with just 51 votes.
But before they can vote on their version of a health care bill, Senate Republicans need to finalize one.
Two major holdouts are Sen. Rand Paul and Sen. Mike Lee. Additionally, Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. Tom Cotton have voiced concern with the bill's direction.
Republicans only have 52 seats in the Senate, which means the party can only afford to lose two votes.
Vice President Mike Pence would cast the deciding vote if there's a tie.
The Senate also requires a score from the Congressional Budget Office before a vote. The deadline for the GOP to pass this bill is Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year.
