Will The Affordable Care Act Be Repealed? McConnell Having Trouble Getting Senate Votes

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky delayed action Saturday on Republicans' plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The move came after the announcement that Sen. John McCain will be home in Arizona this week recovering after a Friday surgery to remove a blood clot from his left eye, according to the New York Times Saturday.

McCain’s absence takes away a crucial vote for a Republican plan that’s on a razor’s edge for support. The Republican bill rolls back many of the Medicaid expansions put in place under the ACA and takes away many of the protections that the ACA forced insurance policies to have. McConnell did not say how long the delay to consider the bill would be extended. He had hoped the bill would be voted on this week.

This is the second time consideration of the bill had to be delayed, McConnell had to kick the can down the road before the 4th of July recess because of lack of support. McConnell has already said that he will be delaying the Senate’s August recess by two weeks in order to work on the bill.

READ: Republican Health Care Bill Vote Delayed, Again

The bill, considered under the budget reconciliation process, requires only 51 votes as opposed to the customary 60. The Senate holds a two seat Republican majority. McConnell can only lose two of his own senators, and still be able to pass the bill because a 50-50 tie means Vice President Mike Pence casts the deciding vote. All 48 Democrats and Independents they caucus with do not support the bill.

Republicans offered the latest version of their bill Thursday, and it wasn’t met with great enthusiasm. Right off the bat Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky said they did not support even beginning discussion on the bill. Collins, a more moderate Republican said that she felt the Medicaid cuts were too deep. Paul, much more conservative, said that he wanted the bill to go much further in dismantling the ACA, also commonly referred to as Obamacare.

The newest version of the bill offered an idea pushed by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, that would allow insurance to sell cheaper, bare bones policies that don’t have the coverage protections of ACA policies. This provision and the bill, in general, have been panned by both the insurance lobby and patient advocacy groups.

READ: Twitter Reacts After Senate Reveals Latest GOP Health Care Plan

Several other Republicans have expressed concern about the bill including Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Dean Heller of Nevada, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rob Portman of Ohio. Murkowski also said that she was displeased about the secret way the bill was crafted.

Paul in an interview on Fox News, Sunday said that he didn’t think the bill had enough support to pass.