Just hours after two more Republican senators, Mike Lee (R-UT) and Jerry Moran (R-KS), came out against the Better Care Reconciliation Act, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made an executive decision. He is reviving the same bill the GOP passed in 2015 (but was vetoed by President Obama), which would phase out Obamacare over the next two years.
The attempt to repeal and replace immediately, McConnell conceded, "will not be successful."
McConnell: Senate will vote on Obamacare repeal with a two-year delay pic.twitter.com/BaggyXsIBh
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) July 18, 2017
There's more.
This is a lot happening for 11pm. #washingtonnewscycle pic.twitter.com/EsYoE8TzPb
— Natalie Fertig (@natsfert) July 18, 2017
Angry conservatives are letting the majority leader have it on Twitter. After all, they waited seven years for Republicans to take control of Congress and repeal Obamacare.
Mitch McConnell is making a huge mistake. We the people want Obamacare repealed & we want it repealed NOW. Not two years from now.
— Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) July 18, 2017
Seriously beyond livid right now.... THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) July 18, 2017
Why did we work so hard to give the Senate back to the GOP just to get lied to? pic.twitter.com/YmzlUiSbMF
The effort to repeal and replace President Obama's signature legislation stalled for so long because of concerns from both conservatives and moderates. Rand Paul (R-KY) said BCRA kept too many Obamacare regulations in place, while moderates like Susan Collins (R-ME) worried that a loss of funding for Medicaid would hurt America's "most vulnerable" citizens.
As for President Trump, he wanted to see Obamacare repealed ASAP.
Republicans should just REPEAL failing ObamaCare now & work on a new Healthcare Plan that will start from a clean slate. Dems will join in!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2017