AHCA Advances to Debate

Kill The Bill, Photo via CNN

 By: Kaitwan Jackson

   Tuesday, Senate met to vote if the American Health Care Act (AHCA) will move to debate. With all 48 Democratic senators voting “no,” the vote came to a tie, and as expected Vice President Pence broke the tie and progressed the bill into debate. Two Republican senators (Susan Collins-ME and Lisa Murkowski-AK) voted against the bill and President Trump responded, "It's very, very sad -- for them. But I'm very, very happy with the result. I believe now we will, over the next week or two, come up with a plan that's going to be really, really wonderful for the American people."

    Numerous amendments will be made to the current AHCA bill before it proceeds to a vote within congress. A repeal and replacement for the American Care Act (Obamacare) may be in the making; however both parties are being wary of repealing Obamacare at the moment, because the AHCA has not proven to be a sound replacement. 

    The bill has now entered the voting stage, meaning senators of both parties can propose amendments. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell-KY would like to have bill completed by the end of the week, but it is very unlikely the process will move that fast.

    The bill has been a main source of discontent with Republicans and Democrats alike. Many former Trump supporters lost content for the President when realizing he planned to strip them of Medicaid coverage and raise premiums for their pre-existing conditions. Current projections predict, after revisions the AHCA will be nothing more than a slimmed down version of Obamacare. Many Republicans have already vouched to vote “no” if the necessary amendments are not made.