The Senate voted 43-57 on July 25, 2017, on a procedural motion to defeat a revised version of the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) amendment (attached) offered by Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Republican Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Dean Heller (R-NV), Bob Corker (R-TN), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Tom Cotton (R-AK), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Mike Lee (R-UT) voted against the amendment. Because a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) score of the revised amendment was not yet available, it was subject to a 60-vote point of order raised by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA). Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) offered a motion to waive budget points of order against the BCRA amendment, which included his Consumer Freedom amendment to allow insurers to sell non-ACA compliant options.

After the vote on the motion to waive was not agreed to, Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) spoke about other changes in the revised BCRA amendment, including additional funding to treat opioid substance use, extending the phase-out of enhanced federal Medicaid expansion funding, and adding financial support for low-income individuals who may be displaced from Medicaid as they seek to buy insurance in the individual market.

Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R-WY) then offered a second-degree amendment on behalf of Senator Rand Paul, similar to the 2015-passed budget reconciliation bill, which includes language that attempts to address potential Byrd Rule violations affecting the Planned Parenthood funding provision.

On July 26, the Senate is expected to vote at 11:30 a.m. to consider points of order against, and then passage of, the Paul amendment. Motions to commit the bill to Committee will occur at 3:30 p.m., including a motion by Senator Joe Donnelly (D-IN) to remove the Medicaid provisions from the legislation. Debate is expected to continue through the week.

To view the list of amendments being considered on the bill, go here.

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ATTACHMENT

BCRA Amendment