Health Care Overhaul Collapses as Two Republican Senators Defect – New York Times
In announcing his opposition to the bill, Mr. Moran said it fails to repeal the Affordable Care Act or address health cares rising costs.
Vice President Mike Pence, Speaker Paul D. Ryan and Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, discuss the next steps.
There are serious problems with Obamacare, and my goal remains what it has been for a long time: to repeal and replace it, he said in a statement.
In his own statement, Mr. Lee said of the bill, In addition to not repealing all of the Obamacare taxes, it doesnt go far enough in lowering premiums for middle-class families; nor does it create enough free space from the most costly Obamacare regulations.
By defecting together, Mr. Moran and Mr. Lee ensured that no one senator would be the definitive no vote.
House Republicans, after their own fits and starts, passed a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act in May, a difficult vote that was supposed to set the stage for Senate action. But with conservative and moderate Republicans so far apart in the Senate, the gulf proved impossible to bridge. Conservatives wanted the Affordable Care Act eradicated, but moderates worried intensely about the effects that would have on their most vulnerable citizens.
The Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer of New York, responded to the announcement on Monday by urging his Republican colleagues to begin anew and, this time, undertake a bipartisan effort.
This second failure of Trumpcare is proof positive that the core of this bill is unworkable, Mr. Schumer said. Rather than repeating the same failed, partisan process yet again, Republicans should start from scratch and work with Democrats on a bill that lowers premiums, provides long-term stability to the markets and improves our health care system.
A comparison of public meetings on Obamacare and the Republican bills to repeal it.
Roughly 20 million people have gained coverage through the Affordable Care Act. Repealing the law was a top priority for Mr. Trump and Republicans in Congress, who say it has driven up premiums and forced consumers to buy insurance they do not want and cannot afford.
The opposition from Mr. Paul and Ms. Collins to the latest version of the Senate bill was expected, so Mr. McConnell had no margin for error as he unveiled it. But he managed to survive through the weekend and until Monday night without losing another of his members though some expressed misgivings or, at the very least, uncertainty.
Mr. McConnell had wanted to hold a vote this week, but he was forced to abandon that plan after Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, had surgery last week to remove a blood clot from above his left eye. That unexpected setback gave the forces that opposed the bill more time to pressure undecided senators.
Already, Mr. McConnell was trying to sell legislation that was being assailed from many directions. On Friday, the health insurance lobby, which had been largely silent during the fight, came off the sidelines to blast as unworkable a key provision allowing the sale of low-cost, stripped-down health plans, saying it would increase premiums and undermine protections for people with pre-existing medical conditions.
Mr. McConnell has now failed twice in recent weeks to roll out a repeal bill and keep his conference together for it. He first wanted to hold a vote in late June, only to reverse course after running into opposition.
House Republicans in competitive districts who supported their version of the bill will now have to explain themselves and Democrats are eager to pounce.
Make no mistake, Paul Ryan cant turn back time and undo the damaging vote he imposed on his conference, said Meredith Kelly, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. House Republicans all own a bill that would strip health care from 23 million Americans and raise costs for millions more, and it will haunt them in 2018.
Mr. Lee, one of the most conservative members of the Senate, was part of a group of four conservative senators who came out against the initial version of Mr. McConnells bill after it was unveiled last month. He then championed the proposal to allow insurers to offer cheap, bare-bones plans, which was pushed by another of those opponents, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas. But the language ultimately added was not quite what Mr. Lee had been advocating, a spokesman said last week.
Mr. Moran, a reliable Republican vote and a past chairman of the Senate Republicans campaign arm, had announced his opposition to the bill as drafted after Mr. McConnell scrapped plans to hold a vote in late June. He expressed concerns about how it would affect Kansas, including whether it would limit access to health care in rural communities and effectively penalize states, like his, that did not expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
The pressure on Mr. Moran at home showed no sign of relenting. The Kansas Hospital Association said last week that the revised Senate bill comes up short, particularly for our most vulnerable patients.
Robert Pear contributed reporting.
Get politics and Washington news updates via Facebook, Twitter and in the Morning Briefing newsletter.
A version of this article appears in print on July 18, 2017, on Page A1 of the New York edition with the headline: 2 More Defections Lead To Collapse of Health Effort.
Read more here:
Health Care Overhaul Collapses as Two Republican Senators Defect - New York Times
- Fact-checking Republican and Democratic claims about Medicaid cuts in the GOP bill - CNN - May 22nd, 2025 [May 22nd, 2025]
- Trump lashes out at Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie: 'He should be voted out of office' - USA Today - May 22nd, 2025 [May 22nd, 2025]
- Republican-led House set to vote on Trump agenda 'Big Beautiful Bill' - ABC11 - May 22nd, 2025 [May 22nd, 2025]
- By the Numbers: House Republican Tax Agenda Favors the Wealthy and Leaves Millions of Working Families Behind - Center on Budget and Policy Priorities - May 22nd, 2025 [May 22nd, 2025]
- Speaker Johnson Remarks on Passage of Republican Tax and Spending Bill - C-SPAN - May 22nd, 2025 [May 22nd, 2025]
- Trump struggles to convince Republican holdouts in Congress on tax bill - Reuters - May 22nd, 2025 [May 22nd, 2025]
- Lawrence: The Trump-Republican budget bill is the work of 'sadistic zombies' - MSNBC News - May 22nd, 2025 [May 22nd, 2025]
- These Are the Dueling Republican Factions Imperiling the Partys Megabill - The New York Times - May 22nd, 2025 [May 22nd, 2025]
- Republican riot bill could have chilling effect, advocates warn - Wisconsin Examiner - May 22nd, 2025 [May 22nd, 2025]
- Republican opposition kills bill intended to fix Alaskas absentee voting problems - Alaska Beacon - May 22nd, 2025 [May 22nd, 2025]
- Republican Gives Mike Johnson One Piece of Advice on Updated Trump Bill - Newsweek - May 22nd, 2025 [May 22nd, 2025]
- By the Numbers: House Republican Reconciliation Bill Takes Food Assistance Away From Millions of People - Center on Budget and Policy Priorities - May 22nd, 2025 [May 22nd, 2025]
- NDGOP Chairwoman lays out the land of the North Dakota Republican Party - The Flag - AM 1100 and FM 92.3 WZFG - May 22nd, 2025 [May 22nd, 2025]
- Josh Hawley and the Republican Populists, at War With Their Party - The New York Times - April 30th, 2025 [April 30th, 2025]
- Trumps first 100 days tests future of both Republican and Democratic parties: ANALYSIS - ABC News - April 30th, 2025 [April 30th, 2025]
- Michigan lawmaker penalized after covering Republican colleague's car in plastic wrap - NBC News - April 30th, 2025 [April 30th, 2025]
- WATCH: Sherrill Demands Republican Colleagues Support Amendment To Hold Hegseth Accountable For Reckless Use Of Signal - Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill... - April 30th, 2025 [April 30th, 2025]
- The weekend that sent the Virginia Republican Party into a tailspin - Virginia Scope - April 30th, 2025 [April 30th, 2025]
- How The Republican Student Loan Plan Compares To SAVE And IBR - Forbes - April 30th, 2025 [April 30th, 2025]
- Maine Republican leader says it would be 'absolutely insane' to primary Sen. Collins - WGME - April 30th, 2025 [April 30th, 2025]
- Wisconsins 3rd District Moves From Lean Republican to Toss Up - Cook Political Report - April 30th, 2025 [April 30th, 2025]
- Republican unity to be tested in talks over Trumps big, beautiful bill - The Guardian - April 30th, 2025 [April 30th, 2025]
- Republican Lawmakers Talk About Their Spending Requests at Final JFC Hearing - MacIver Institute - April 30th, 2025 [April 30th, 2025]
- Community solar is winning over Republican lawmakers around the US - Canary Media - April 30th, 2025 [April 30th, 2025]
- He was too conservative for the Republican Party. Now hes a leading candidate. - Politico - April 21st, 2025 [April 21st, 2025]
- Trumps ex-chief of staff says fear among Republican politicians is the consequence of disagreeing with him - The Independent - April 21st, 2025 [April 21st, 2025]
- Republican Agendas Triple Threat to Low- and Moderate-Income Family Well-Being - Center on Budget and Policy Priorities - April 21st, 2025 [April 21st, 2025]
- Republican US Senator Murkowski on threat of Trump retaliation: 'We are all afraid' - Reuters - April 21st, 2025 [April 21st, 2025]
- Commentary: Alaska Republican speaks truth about Trump: 'Retaliation is real. And thats not right.' - Los Angeles Times - April 21st, 2025 [April 21st, 2025]
- Republican state senator says new audits show need to pare down DEI spending in Wisconsin - WPR - April 21st, 2025 [April 21st, 2025]
- Republican Senator 'Very Anxious' and 'Afraid' of Trump's Retaliation - Newsweek - April 21st, 2025 [April 21st, 2025]
- Democratic state rep. reportedly clingwraps Republican colleagues car in parking dispute - MLive.com - April 21st, 2025 [April 21st, 2025]
- Former OneRepublic bassist to take on California House Republican in tight district - AP News - April 21st, 2025 [April 21st, 2025]
- Will end badly for him: Republican Karl Rove says Americans are already tired of Trump - The Independent - April 21st, 2025 [April 21st, 2025]
- Republican Senator Confronted At Town Hall Over Trump: 'Shameful' - Newsweek - April 21st, 2025 [April 21st, 2025]
- Takeaways from APs report on pardoned Jan. 6 rioters being embraced in Republican politics - AP News - April 21st, 2025 [April 21st, 2025]
- In dispute over local elections, Wyoming Republican Party attorney says law, court ruling dont apply - Wyoming Tribune Eagle - April 21st, 2025 [April 21st, 2025]
- Republican senators break ranks to call for investigation of Signal leak scandal - The Guardian US - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]
- Former Utah Rep. Mia Love, the first Black Republican woman elected to the US House, has died - The Associated Press - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]
- Republican Abortion Laws Are Torturing Women. Can the GOP Fix Its Own Crisis? - The Texas Observer - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]
- Texas Republican Introduces Bill to Address the Nonexistent Problem of Furries in Schools - Them - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]
- Republican party committees lead in cumulative fundraising as of second finance deadline of the 2026 election cycle - Ballotpedia News - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]
- Theres a tug-of-war in the Republican party over Waltzs Signal chat - POLITICO - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]
- Trumps job cuts are causing Republican angst as all parties face backlash - The Conversation - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]
- Key Republican says savings goal for Trump agenda bill can be reached without cutting Medicaid benefits - POLITICO - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]
- The NYS Senate Republican Conference Demands Changes to Discovery Law be Included in State Budget - THE WELLSVILLE SUN - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]
- Former Utah Rep. Mia Love, the first Black Republican woman elected to the US House, has died - ABC News - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]
- Could California voters be warming to the idea of a Republican governor in 2026? - Sacramento Bee - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]
- Mia Love, First Black Republican Woman Elected to Congress, Dies at 49 - The New York Times - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]
- Republican candidate for Canonsburg-based magistrate race removed from ballot - Observer-Reporter - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]
- UnitedHealthcare 'Pushing' Boundaries of Medicare Fraud, Republican Says - Newsweek - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]
- Inside a heated town hall where a Nebraska Republican faced backlash over Trump's policies - PBS NewsHour - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]
- Who's running in Olive Branch? A look at the Republican primary ballot and contested races - Commercial Appeal - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]
- A Republican-backed bill would upend voter registration. Here are 8 things to know - NPR - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- With Anderson likely heading to D.C., Republican Party of Virginia could pick a new chair next month - Virginia Mercury - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Sins of the past do not budge Republican Senate from voting to end DEI in higher ed - Kentucky Lantern - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Republican Full-Year Continuing Resolution - House Committee on Appropriations | - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Republican Continuing Resolution Raises Housing Costs for Hardworking Americans - House Committee on Appropriations | - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Tariffs Offer Latest Example of Trump Remaking the Republican Party | Opinion - Newsweek - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- How the White House hired Republican political firms to launch an anti-migrant ad campaign - The Associated Press - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Contentious Republican town halls are going viral - The Verge - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- They live in Californias Republican districts. They feel betrayed by looming health care cuts - CalMatters - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Republican threats push DC to begin removing "Black Lives Matter" plaza from street near White House - Milwaukee Independent - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Vindman pushes for no pay during shutdown, criticizes Republican bill and executive orders - CBS19 News - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Some Republican lawmakers have concerns about Elon Musk and DOGE. Here's what they've said - The Associated Press - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Republican leadership tells party to stop holding public events what impact will that have? - The Guardian US - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- DeLauro Releases Fact Sheet on Republican Funding Bill that Accelerates the Stealing of Taxpayer Funds from American Families and Businesses - House... - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- Berkeley Talks: Heather Cox Richardson on the evolution of the Republican Party and what gives her hope for America - UC Berkeley - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- Trump administration briefing: US backs Russia ahead of G7, Republican spending bill boosts defense - The Guardian US - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- Sen. Dan Thatcher is leaving Utahs Republican Party to break the deadlock in politics - Salt Lake Tribune - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- Republican-led bill would limit investors to 2,000 homes in Georgia - WABE 90.1 FM - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- Analysis | The Republican governor leading states response to Trump - The Washington Post - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- Opinion | The Houses Republican edge is gone. But the gerrymander lives. - The Washington Post - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- DOGE firings provoke heated confrontations, shouts of Nazi, at Republican town halls - Los Angeles Times - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- Record Surge in Republican Satisfaction With State of Nation - Gallup.com - March 1st, 2025 [March 1st, 2025]
- Senator Murray Raises Alarm Over Looming Republican Cuts to Medicaid, with Health Care Workers in Central and Eastern WA - Senator Patty Murray - March 1st, 2025 [March 1st, 2025]
- LEADER JEFFRIES: THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET REPRESENTS THE LARGEST MEDICAID CUT IN AMERICAN HISTORY Congressman Hakeem Jeffries - Congressman Hakeem... - March 1st, 2025 [March 1st, 2025]
- Police forces lean Republican, but partisan politics dont greatly influence officer actions - PsyPost - March 1st, 2025 [March 1st, 2025]
- Republican senators threaten not to boost Texas public universities funding over DEI ban - The Texas Tribune - March 1st, 2025 [March 1st, 2025]
- There appears to be one Republican serious about fixing government spending | Opinion - USA TODAY - March 1st, 2025 [March 1st, 2025]