Wouldn't A Full Repeal of Obamacare Require a 60-Vote Majority?

[stopbush]

That's my understanding, though I don't know all the reasons (anybody?).

Rand Paul saying full repeal of Obamacare is what's needed. How many votes would that take?

[jpljr77]

1. I don't think so. Repealing would be a gain for general account.

The 60-vote majority to begin debate is triggered by legislation that will create more spending than a certain threshold. Since the current ACA spends more than it brings in, repealing it would have a positive impact on the general fund. So only 51 votes are required to begin debate.

[PoliticAverse]

3. The CBO's analysis indicates that repealing the ACA would result in increased budget deficits...

and thus could not be considered a "budgetary reconciliation" act.

See: https://www.cbo.gov/publication/50252 :

[jpljr77]

4. That's an old analysis and no longer the case.

Medicaid expansion has taken hold since then. Repeal rolls it back, thus saving money from the federal budget.

To be clear, I think we should spend every dime of it and more on healthcare. But as the ACA has rolled out in full, it has become a net expense.

[stopbush]

5. "To begin debate." But what about the votes needed to fully repeal?

Isn't that 60?

[jpljr77]

6. No, you only need a majority to pass stuff. The 60 is to begin and end debate.

It doesn't matter anyway, they'll just change the rules if they have to.

Point blank: they only need 50 to repeal it and they can't even get that.

[PoliticAverse]

2. The original ACA was passed in 2 parts. The first part was subject to filibuster...

as it was just a regular bill and so required 60 votes to pass (to avoid a Republican filibuster).
The second part passed as a "budgetary reconciliation" bill which isn't subject to filibuster under
Senate rules and so only needed 50 votes to pass. A repeal of the entire ACA would be subject
to filibuster unless the Senate filibuster rules were changed.

For more information see:
Reconciliation_(United States Congress): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconciliation_(United_States_Congress)
Filibuster in the United States Senate: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filibuster_in_the_United_States_Senate

[Gothmog]

7. Trump believes that he needs sixty votes for part of the repeal effort

Link to tweet

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