WASHINGTON (WBAP/KLIF News/CNN) – The Senate will begin to debate the GOP healthcare bill that seeks to overhaul Obamacare after Republicans received the necessary votes to move forward.
Vice President Mike Pence cast the deciding vote, making the count 51-50.
Proud to break Senate tie to open debate to rescue Americans from failed Obamacare. Thanks to @POTUS, this is beginning of end of Obamacare. pic.twitter.com/3UFodiZtoV
— Vice President Pence (@VP) July 25, 2017
President Donald Trump called the Senate passage of the motion to proceed on health care “a big step”.
At the start of a Rose Garden joint news conference he said, “I’m very happy to announce that with zero of the Democrats’ votes, the motion to proceed on healthcare has moved past and now we move forward toward truly great health care for the American people. We look forward to that. This was a big step.”
He added, “I want to thank Sen. John McCain. A very brave man. He made a tough trip to get here.” In a written statement released at the same time, the President said, “I applaud the Senate for taking a giant step to end the Obamacare nightmare. As this vote shows, inaction is not an option, and now the legislative process can move forward as intended to produce a bill that lowers costs and increases options for all Americans. The Senate must now pass a bill and get it to my desk so we can finally end the Obamacare disaster once and for all.”
Copyright 2017. WBAP/KLIF News. All Rights Reserved. CNN Contributed.
