College Voices
Health Care Nightmare: Senate’ Skinny Bill Fails; Trump Replaces Chief of Staff
More Bad News for Obamacare Repeal Plans
When the Republicans’ ideal version of the ‘skinny bill’ failed to gain enough votes to pass in the Senate earlier this month, a battered GOP devised a new bill.
The ‘skinny bill’ would not completely repeal the Affordable Care Act, but it would have undone certain parts of Obamacare, and perhaps more importantly, it would have been a much-needed win for a party who, as of late, have focused much of their efforts on erasing the legislation (and legacy) our past president left behind.
With only a few hours to consider the watered-down version of the bill Republicans originally wanted, the Senate rejected and killed ’skinny bill’, in the early hours of Friday. It was none other than Senator John McCain who cast the decisive vote against the bill. He and two other
It was none other than Senator John McCain who cast the decisive vote against the bill. He and two other Republicans, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, opposed this new version of an Obamacare repeal plan.
Senator John McCain had just returned to the Senate, after recently being diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer and undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumor.
According to reports, Vice-President Mike Pence and other Republicans desperately tried to sway McCain even seconds before the final votes were cast, but they were unable to secure his support in time.
In the end, it was a contentious 49-to- 51 votes that derailed the aptly-named ’skinny bill’. The bill, a last-ditch attempt at repealing Obamacare, failed-leaving Republicans back at where they started, square one.
President Trump, not giving up just yet, is hopeful that future GOP bills will be able to pass in the Senate.
3 Republicans and 48 Democrats let the American people down. As I said from the beginning, let ObamaCare implode, then deal. Watch!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 28, 2017
If Republicans are going to pass great future legislation in the Senate, they must immediately go to a 51 vote majority, not senseless 60…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 28, 2017
…Even though parts of healthcare could pass at 51, some really good things need 60. So many great future bills & budgets need 60 votes….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 28, 2017
Out with the Old, In with the New
Hard on the heels of the ’skinny bill’ failure came the very sudden departure of Trump’s Chief of Staff, Reince Priebus. After a rough six months of supposed disarray within the West Wing, Trump ousted his Chief of Staff who he believed wasn’t able to properly oversee White House operations.
Trump’s term has famously seen one controversy after the next but perhaps the biggest controversy of them all are the reports of chaos and rivalries gone amuck in the nation’s White House.
It appears President Trump has finally had enough. On Friday afternoon, Trump tweeted the news to his millions of followers; Reince Priebus is being replaced with Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly.
I am pleased to inform you that I have just named General/Secretary John F Kelly as White House Chief of Staff. He is a Great American….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 28, 2017
…and a Great Leader. John has also done a spectacular job at Homeland Security. He has been a true star of my Administration
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 28, 2017
In an interview with Wolf Blitzer, Preibus claimed that his split with President Trump is cordial.
”The President wanted to go a different direction. A president has a right to hit a reset button. I think it’s a good time to hit the reset button. I think he was right to hit the reset button.”
In a separate statement, Preibus thanked the President and even sent well wishes to his successor, Kelly.
“It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve this President and our country. I want to thank the President for giving me this very special opportunity. I will continue to serve as a strong supporter of the President’s agenda and policies. I can’t think of a better person than General John Kelly to succeed me and I wish him God’s blessings and great success.”
Of Preibus’ “resignation”, President Trump tweeted:
I would like to thank Reince Priebus for his service and dedication to his country. We accomplished a lot together and I am proud of him!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 28, 2017
Preibus’ split with the White House is not unusual for Trump’s administration. Trump has split ties with several other members of his administration, although just six months into his term.
By: Stefan Sykes
