Health Care

With The Clock Running, Senate Health Care Bill Has A Long Way To Go

When the Senate session started Wednesday morning, lawmakers had 17 hours remaining to debate the health care bill.

With The Clock Running, Senate Health Care Bill Has A Long Way To Go
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When the Senate session started Wednesday, they had about 17 hours left to debate the future of health care. And the first proposal to come up for a vote Tuesday was shot down.

That proposal of the health care law included amendments from Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. Rob Portman. But the Congressional Budget Office hadn't scored it.

Without a CBO score, the bill needed 60 votes. But it couldn't even get a simple majority — 57 senators voted against it, including nine Republicans.

CBO Score Of The GOP's Repeal-Only Health Care Bill Is Harshest Yet
CBO Score Of The GOP's Repeal-Only Health Care Bill Is Harshest Yet

CBO Score Of The GOP's Repeal-Only Health Care Bill Is Harshest Yet

The Congressional Budget Office estimates a repeal of the Affordable Care Act would increase the number of uninsured people by 32 million.

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During the first day of debate, senators proposed more than a dozen amendments to the health care legislation.

When the debate clock runs out, a senator could motion to extend it, but that would need approval from three-fifths of the Senate.