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July 27, 2017

Senate Republicans Mull "Skinny Repeal" of Affordable Care Act
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On Capitol Hill, the Senate on Wednesday rejected legislation to repeal
the Affordable Care Act without a replacement, after seven Republican
senators broke ranks to reject the bill in a 45-55 vote. The latest
defeat came a day after Republicans failed in a bid to pass their bill
to repeal and replace Obamacare. With just eight hours left to debate
healthcare, Senate leaders are now considering what's being called a
"skinny repeal," which would eliminate the individual and the employer
mandate that requires certain businesses to provide health insurance to
employees. It would not touch the Medicaid program. Democrats blasted
Majority Leader Mitch Mc Connell for keeping details of the skinny
repeal secret. But on Wednesday night, the Congressional Budget Office
offered its assessment of what Democrats said is a likely draft of the
bill-finding it would increase the number of uninsured people by 16
million while increasing premiums by about 20 percent. The debate came
amid massive protests on Capitol Hill and at lawmakers' offices. A
recent USA Today poll found just 12 percent of Americans supported the
Senate version of the healthcare bill. We'll have more on the fight over
healthcare later in the broadcast.


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