McConnell presses holdouts: Lets vote
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is ramping up pressure on Senate Republicans to allow healthcare reform legislation to move forward, but old antagonist Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is an obstacle.
McConnell on Wednesday urged colleagues to drop procedural objections to the bill, a sign that his patience is wearing thin — and that he is uncertain he can win the day.
“If we sit on our hands, families will continue to suffer. And if we let this opportunity to move beyond ObamaCare pass us by, what other options will there be?” he said in remarks from the Senate floor.
McConnell argued that if senators blocked the bill, there would be no opportunity to debate their ideas in public.
Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) said his colleagues have an obligation to allow the debate to proceed and would break Senate traditions by blocking it.
“The only time I’m aware of around here that people don’t vote yes on a motion to proceed is if they don’t have an opportunity to offer amendments and get votes on them,” he said.
Their pleas, however, failed to move some members of the GOP conference.
Cruz, the runner-up in last year’s Republican presidential primary, declined to say Wednesday whether he would vote to allow the healthcare debate to begin next week.
http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/341780-mcconnell-presses-holdouts-lets-vote?rnd=1499906087
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