Government Affairs Update: Status of Healthcare

Last week the Senate failed to pass the "skinny" repeal of Obamacare. The vote was 49-51, with Senators Collins (R-ME), McCain (R-AZ), and Murkowski (R-AK) joining all 48 Democrats in opposition. That may end the Senate's consideration of Obamacare repeal this year. 

Following the vote McConnell said, "It's time to move on. What we tried to accomplish for the American people was the right thing for the country. I think the American people are going to regret that we couldn't find another way forward."  In a later statement, he added, “We must now return to the correct way of legslating and send the bill back to committee, hold hearings, receive input from both sides of the aisle, heed the recommendations of nation’s governors, and produce a bill that finally delivers affordable health care for the American people.”  However, at 2:26 AM, President Trump tweeted, "3 Republicans and 48 Democrats let the American people down. As I said from the beginning, let Obamacare implode, then deal. Watch."

 

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Edward Orlet

Edward Orlet

Ed Orlet, NAED Senior Vice President of Membership and Government Relations, serves as a facilitator for diverse distributor and cross-industry groups, as well as moderating industry panels nationwide. Before joining NAED in 2001, Orlet worked as a distributor salesperson to mechanical contracting and OEM markets. He has more than 20 years’ experience in distribution and sales to construction, institutional, and industrial customers. He also worked on the legislative staff in the Illinois State Senate. Ed holds a Bachelor of Science degree in advertising from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.