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Two More GOP Senators Oppose Healthcare Bill

by VOA News

   Two more Senate Republicans have announced they will oppose the vote to
   open debate on the GOP's healthcare bill, in effect killing the bill in
   its current form.

   Senators Jerry Moran of Kansas and Mike Lee of Utah issued separate
   statements late Monday saying they can't support the legislation. They
   join two other Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Rand
   Paul of Kentucky, in opposition.

   With just 52 seats in the 100-seat U.S. Senate, the Republicans can
   only afford to lose two votes to pass their proposed replacement of the
   Affordable Care Act. All 48 Democratic senators are expected to vote
   against it.

   It was the second straight failure for McConnell, who had to cancel a
   vote on an earlier version of the bill last month when defeat became
   inevitable.

   President Donald Trump has kept his distance from the Senate process,
   but Monday night's development was a major blow for him, too, as he
   failed to rally support for what has been the GOP's trademark issue for
   seven years -- ever since then President Barack Obama and the Democrats
   passed the Affordable Care Act.