The U.S. Senate failed to repeal the nation's health care law but gave Republicans a chance to go on record with their objections to the sweeping measure that requires all Americans to have insurance.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., forced the party-line vote by attaching the House-passed repeal bill to a pending measure on aviation issues. All 47 GOP senators voted for repeal, but Democrats have the majority in the Senate.
"This fight isn't over," McConnell said. "We intend to continue to fight to repeal and replace Obamacare with sensible reforms that would lower the cost of American healthcare." Two items on his list: reducing medical malpractice claims and allowing states to sell insurance across state lines.
The final vote, which came on a procedural motion, was 51-47. Sixty votes were needed for the repeal effort to succeed. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., called on the GOP to work with Democrats to find "common-sense" fixes to the law.
"It's time for Republicans to set aside the battles of the past," he said. "It's time to move on from extreme, ideological plans to repeal a health care law that is lowering prices, expanding access to care and lowering our deficit."
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