Scaled Down “Skinny” Repeal Of Obamacare Rejected

Just one day after the Senate rejected the bill to repeal Obamacare without a replacement, the “skinny” repeal has also been rejected.

Lawmakers met on Friday to discuss the “skinny” repeal that would get rid of the mandate to purchase insurance, as well as the mandate for employers to provide insurance. The proposed legislation also sought to defund Planned Parenthood for a year, provide a provision giving states more flexibility to opt out of insurance regulations, and a three-year repeal of the medical device tax.

In theory, while some of this may look good on paper, it would dramatically increase the number of uninsured Americans. Unless there was an incentive for having insurance, no one would actually have it and employers would not offer it. Therefore, not only would it crash the insurance market, but it could be detrimental for families.

Like the previous bill, this did not pass.  Republicans voted 49-51, with John McCain being the deciding vote against the measure. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) also voted against the “skinny” bill.

Upon finding out the results of Friday’s meeting, Trump took to Twitter to voice his displeasure.

“3 Republicans and 48 Democrats let the American people down,” he tweeted. “As I said from the beginning, let ObamaCare implode, then deal. Watch!”