The Senate on (January 12, 2017) approved 51-48 a budget resolution for FY 2017 that puts in place a budget reconciliation procedural mechanism to enable Congress to repeal major parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) with a majority vote in the Senate.

The resolution that passed in the Senate after nearly a week of debate and several votes was S. Con. Res. 3, the Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2017. The budget resolution now goes to the House, where it is expected to receive quick consideration and approval, possibly by the end of the week. A budget resolution does not go to the President to be signed into law.

Congress until now failed to pass a budget resolution for FY 2017 due to a dispute over discretionary spending levels. The budget resolution that passed was less about putting a budget plan in place than it was for easing the passage of legislation to repeal key provisions of the ACA through the process of budget reconciliation. Reconciliation is an optional component of a budget resolution that directs selected committees of jurisdiction to report out legislation to conform to budget directives outlined in the resolution.

The FY 2017 resolution does not address tax reform — that is likely to be taken up in the forthcoming FY 2018 budget resolution — but instructs two Senate and two House committees with jurisdiction over the ACA, including Finance and Ways & Means, to report legislation by January 27 to reduce the deficit by $1 billion each. There is no penalty for missing the deadline.

None of the many amendments considered in the Senate, dealing nearly exclusively with health issues, were approved. Amendments that failed in the Senate include:

— Nelson — Medicare Part D, after failing to waive the point of order against the amendment by vote of 47-51

— King — health care discrimination based on occupation — falls to point of order with waiver vote of 48-50

— Barrasso — rural health care (alternative to Manchin) — falls to point of order with waiver vote of 51-47 (60 votes needed)

— Manchin — rural health care — falls to point of order with waiver vote of 51-47

— Heller — GOP alternative to Baldwin (coverage to 26) — falls to a point of order with waiver vote of 51-47

— Baldwin — coverage to 26 — falls to a point of order with waiver vote of 48-50

— Flake — VA hiring (alternative to Tester) — falls to a point of order with waiver vote of 50-48

— Tester — establish a budget point of order re: VA healthcare — falls to a point of order with waiver vote of 48-50

— Casey — insurance limits on disability or chronic condition — falls to a point of order with waiver vote of 49-49

— Corker offered an amendment to change the date for reconciliation bills but withdrew the amendment

— Barrasso — establish deficit-neutral reserve fund regarding strengthening Social Security and repeal and replace Obamacare falls to point of order with waiver vote of 47-51

— Hatch — establish deficit-neutral reserve fund regarding strengthening Social Security and repeal and replace Obamacare (GOP alternative to Menendez) — falls to point of order with waiver vote of 51-47

— Menendez — establish point of order against legislation that would eliminate or reduce Federal funding to States under Medicaid Expansion — falls to point of order with waiver vote of 48-50

— Alexander — prescription drugs imported must be approved by FDA — falls to a point of order with waiver vote of 49-49

— Klobuchar — drug re-importation from Canada defeated 46-52

— Wyden - point of order against legislation if does not lower drug prices- falls to a point of order with waiver vote of 47-51

— Fischer — community health centers (GOP alternative to Gillibrand) — falls to a point of order with waiver vote of 52-46

— Gillibrand - women's health care — falls to a point of order with waiver vote of 49-49

— Hatch - establish deficit-neutral reserve fund regarding strengthening Social Security and repeal and replace Obamacare (GOP alternative to Brown) — falls to a point of order with waiver vote of 51-47

— Brown - establish a point of order against legislation affecting children on Medicaid or CHIP — falls to point of order — with waiver vote of 49-49