Heller votes against Obamacare repeal, delay

By Yvonne Gonzalez

Published Wednesday, July 26, 2017 | 4:27 p.m.

Updated Wednesday, July 26, 2017 | 6:05 p.m.

A series of health care votes failed to pass in the Senate Wednesday, including a repeal and delay plan for Obamacare that also targeted abortion.

The Senate failed to pass the Paul Amendment, 45-55, which would have undone major portions of Obamacare without replacing it and prevented the use of subsidies to buy plans that cover abortion. Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., was one of seven Republicans to vote no, joining Democrats including Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto.

The Senate also declined to send the debate back to committee, a Democrat-backed effort that failed 48-52 with Heller voting against it.

Senators voted 48-51 to defeat another Democrat-backed bid, this one to push the issue to committee and have provisions taken out if they reduce benefits for people with disabilities. Heller voted no and Cortez Masto was a yes.

Heller backed a “sense of the Senate” vote on the importance of Medicaid. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said the amendment violated a legislative rule. Sanders pointed to lawmakers’ previous votes to kick people off Medicaid.

Heller made a motion to waive the rule for his amendment. The Senate, including Cortez Masto, overwhelmingly voted against the waiver, with only 10 lawmakers in support.

“I’ve said since the beginning of the health care debate that I would only support a solution that protects Nevada’s most vulnerable,” Heller told members of the Senate before his amendment fell.

Heller has been criticized over his Tuesday vote to restart the health care debate in the Senate. Vice President Mike Pence was the tiebreaker on that vote. A repeal and replace vote failed later on Tuesday.

Republicans are also discussing a “skinny” repeal, a pared-down version that has not been released. Gov. Brian Sandoval and nine other governors signed onto a letter expressing opposition to skinny repeal, according to a letter released by Matt House, spokesman for Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

The Senate will take up the Republican reconciliation bill to the American Health Care Act of 2017 again Thursday, with votes scheduled in the afternoon.

Local rallies planned

“Trumpcare” opponents planned to gather near UMC, 1800 W Charleston Blvd., for a 5:30 p.m. vigil on Wednesday. Cortez Masto urged people to attend the event, though she will not be there, saying in a statement that it’s important for people to continue voicing opposition.

“The participation and advocacy of hard-working Americans are what has stalled Trumpcare so far,” she said.

The Nevada State AFL-CIO is also planning a rally for 11 a.m. Friday at Heller’s Las Vegas office, 8930 W. Sunset Road.