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Senate delivers blow to Trump's promise to repeal Obamacare

President Donald Trump called Obamacare a "nightmare" at a rally in Youngstown, Ohio days before the Senate rejected repeal. (AP) President Donald Trump called Obamacare a "nightmare" at a rally in Youngstown, Ohio days before the Senate rejected repeal. (AP)

President Donald Trump called Obamacare a "nightmare" at a rally in Youngstown, Ohio days before the Senate rejected repeal. (AP)

Amy Sherman
By Amy Sherman July 31, 2017

Three Republican senators, along with the Democrats, put the brakes on President Donald Trump's promise to repeal Obamacare.

During the early morning hours of July 28, John McCain of Arizona, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted along with the Democrats against repealing former President Barack Obama's signature legislation.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said in a Senate floor speech after the vote that "it's time to move on," but Trump has shown no signs of backing down from one of his signature campaign promises.

After the Senate vote, Trump urged senators to continue the quest for repeal:

"Unless the Republican Senators are total quitters, Repeal & Replace is not dead! Demand another vote before voting on any other bill!" he tweeted July 29.

Trump lashed out at senators on Twitter and threatened to end "bailouts" for insurers that are designed to help patients with modest incomes.

Trump senior advisor Kellyanne Conway said on Fox News Sunday the president would decide in the coming days whether to block subsidies in the health care law.

"He's going to make that decision this week, and that's a decision that only he can make," she said on July 30.

There are some other possibilities beyond full repeal of the law, including some lawmakers' hopes for a bipartisan solution. But it's unclear if Congress will help Trump deliver on his promise to repeal the law at any point in the future, although Trump still has time.

For now this promise remains Stalled.

Our Sources

Fox News Sunday transcript, "Conway on White House operations, health care reform," July 30, 2017

Washington Post, "GOP unsure what to do about ACA," July 28, 2017

The Hill, "McConnell: 'Time to move on' after healthcare defeat," July 28, 2017

PolitiFact, "After the health care bill failure, what's next for Congress and the Affordable Care Act?" July 28, 2017u

Vox, "What McCain did was hard. What Murkowski and Collins did was much harder," July 28, 2017

New York Times, "Trump Tells G.O.P. Senators Not to Be 'Total Quitters' on Health Bill," July 29, 2017

AP, "Trump urges GOP not to give up on health bill; Isn't ready to 'move on' after proposal's defeat," July 31, 2017