WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Senate voted 51-50 today to move forward with a debate on health care reform. Vice President Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking vote. Only two Republican senators who joined Democrats in voting no on the motion to proceed — Susan Collins from Maine and Lisa Murkowski from Alaska.
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) released the following statement strongly condemning the procedural vote:
“We are deeply disappointed in the continued reckless attacks on millions of Americans and their access to critical health care,” said JoDee Winterhof, HRC Senior Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs. “It is unconscionable that any Senator would vote in favor of the Motion to Proceed without knowing what the underlying bill to repeal the ACA actually includes, without any public committee hearings, or even a score from the Congressional Budget Office. The Trump-Pence-McConnell plan would result in millions of Americans losing their health care and billions of dollars in tax breaks for the wealthiest in our country — this is unacceptable. This dangerous proposal would be especially harmful to millions of LGBTQ people and people living with HIV. We urge the Senate to reject this disastrous proposal and work to improve our health care system through an open and democratic process.”
