New Health Care Law 2017: After Senate Vote, Read Obamacare Repeal Resolution Full Text

The Senate passed a budget resolution that would begin the process of repealing the Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare, early Thursday morning. The non-binding resolution passed the Senate, 51-48 and instructs key Senate and House committees to begin the repeal process.

Under the proposal, lawmakers must look at laws within their jurisdictions and recommend changes that could reduce the federal deficit by "not less than $1,000,000,000" for fiscal years 2017 through 2026. The resolution used the same budget process Democrats used to pass the Affordable Care Act, one of the signature accomplishments of the Obama administration, in 2010. The House will vote Friday on the resolution.

"The Senate just took an important step toward repealing and replacing Obamacare by passing the resolution that provides the legislative tools necessary to actually repeal this failed law while we move ahead with smarter health care policies," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said in a statement.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), a medical doctor, broke ranks with fellow Republicans to vote against the resolution over concerns that Republicans did not yet have a replacement plan. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) was absent for the vote.

Republicans are looking to use votes on the reauthorization of programs like the Children's Health Insurance Program as opportunities to implement parts of an Obamacare replacement, the Washington Post reported, adding that such a strategy could give Republicans leverage over Democrats.

Many Democrats shouted out opposition to the resolution while casting their votes, a violation of Senate rules. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill), a disabled Iraq veteran, said "For all those with pre-existing conditions, I stand on prosthetic legs to vote no!"

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn) yelled out his opposition as well, saying "I vote no on behalf of them or than 2.3 million Minnesotans who can no longer be discriminated against because of the ACA."

You can read the resolution here.