If ACA repeal bill fails with McCain present

[standingtall]

it will prove getting him to vote was a stunt by the gop to scare Senators who were going to vote no into voting yes. Whatever happens every republican that votes for repeal is lowlife scum.

[Demsrule86]

1. I have no idea what will happen. I called all the offices for Portman...and all voice mail was down.

Used twitter and sent email I live in Ohio.

[global1]

2. If Repealed & Replaced Both Trump & Repugs Luck Out Again....

It won't be called Trumpcare or Republicare - they'll call it McCainCare in honor of him.

They'll shift the blame to sully his legacy.

[standingtall]

3. Wasn't it recently determined that they would need 60 votes for much

of the stuff in their replacement bill? If they get to 50 are they just going to run over the rules? I kind of think so.

[moose65]

6. Yeah I don't get that either

When the Republicans were trying to obstruct Obama at every turn, didn't every Motion to Proceed require 60 votes? What the heck happened to THAT, McTurtle??

[karynnj]

10. Yep and McConnell insisted on the maximum time between each vote that he could

This meant that in December, right before Christmas, it took more than a week of the MTP, then the Motion to close discussion, and then the actual vote. I remember John Kerry pleading with McConnell to waive those time periods, the Democrats had the votes and this meant that none of the staffers in the Senate could get home before - I think Christmas Eve.

[moose65]

4. I find much of this chatter misleading

They're not actually voting on the 'repeal' today. They're voting on the motion to proceed, which means they will START the debate for the repeal bill. Even if McCain voted "Yes" on the motion to proceed, there will still be another vote after that. Also, they will have to negotiate with the House before anything can be sent to Trump. This isn't over by a long shot.

[standingtall]

5. Splitting hairs their voting to vote to repeal and if the motion

to proceed goes through it will be a short window before they officially vote to repeal. They'll do their 20 hours of debate and then try and shove it though as quickly as possible.

[moose65]

7. Well yeah, probably

But this vote today is NOT to repeal. It muddies the waters to keep referring to it in that way.

[Wounded Bear]

8. Well, I don't need any "proof" that it is a stunt...

that is pretty self-evident.

[karynnj]

9. I would be surprised if he votes no on the MTP

However, unlike in 2009, they need the SAME number of votes to pass the actual bill - that almost no one has seen. It is not even known if it is repeal and replace or just repeal. McCain - in addition to having said that there should have been hearings, spoke of wanting to make amendments.

If the MTP passes, there may be many amendments - many with votes - and a vote to end the discussion, then a vote on the resulting bill. Still I hope this bill absolutely fails on the MTP with Senators saying it is premature to open the process to amendments before the bill is actually known. One question is whether the bill they use is one that has a CBO score. If so, it has a bad CBO score. They need hearings IF they were really serious (which I doubt) about passing a good comprehensive bill.