Republicans win narrow vote to open debate on repealing Obamacare

CGTN

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US Republicans have pulled off a narrow victory to move closer to a repeal of Obamacare.

The

Senate voted 51-50 on Tuesday to move forward with a debate on health

care reform, even though it was not clear what new measure the body will

be considering. Vice President Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking vote.

Republican

Senators Susan Collins andLisa Murkowskiwere the only two GOP members

who joined Democrats in voting 'no' on the motion to proceed.

Before

the voting began, protesters in the Senate's public gallery chanted

"Kill the bill" and "Shame! Shame!", the Associated Press reported.

Republican

SenatorJohn McCain, who was diagnosed with brain cancer last week,

returned to the Senate floor to vote in favor of moving the debate

forward. His appearance was met with a standing ovation.

"I

voted for the motion to proceed to allow debate to continue and

amendments be offered," McCain said. "I will not vote for this bill as

it is today. It's a shell of a bill right now. We all know that."

The

Senate GOP has dealt with several setbacks, including not having enough

votes for its original plan to repeal and replace aspects of Obamacare

or for a straight repeal, butPresident Trumphas pushed for Republican

lawmakers to make progress on one of his biggest campaign promises.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Trump said he applauded senators 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 statement said. "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."

Trump thanked Senator McCain on Twitter for returning to D.C. "for such a vital vote."