Obamacare repeal fails by 2 votes

Dick Durbin
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin spoke on the Senate floor on July 14 against the Republican’s health care proposals. (Photo courtesy YouTube)

By Eric Stock

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate narrowly struck down the so-called “skinny” repeal of Obamacare after three Republicans joined Democrats in voting ‘no.’

Democratic Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois called on Republicans to work in a bipartisan, public manner to strengthen the health care law.

“While American families slept last night, Senate Republicans made the latest attempt to strip health insurance from tens of millions of Americans,” Durbin said. “Because of three courageous Republican Senators, they failed.”

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth said now is the time to set Trumpcare and partisanship aside and start working on the fixes to the Affordable Care Act that both parties can support to improve our nation’s healthcare system.

“I am glad the majority of my colleagues agree that legislation that would have robbed millions of working Americans of their health insurance and caused healthcare expenses for working families to skyrocket will not become law.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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