McConnell abandons Obamacare replacement to seek straight repeal

Bloomberg reports:

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell abandoned efforts to pass a broad Republican-only replacement of Obamacare, saying late yesterday he will instead seek a vote on a simple repeal—delayed by two years to give lawmakers time to seek a replacement.

A repeal without a replacement is almost certain to get blocked in the Senate as well. The inability to deliver on seven years of GOP promises to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act would be the biggest failure yet for President Donald Trump and Republicans since they won control of Congress and the White House.

McConnell's move came after two more Republican senators announced their opposition to the Republican leader's plan, which he drafted largely in secret. The defections by Mike Lee of Utah and Jerry Moran of Kansas, in addition to previous opposition by GOP Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Susan Collins of Maine, were enough to sink the measure.

Lee and Moran said in statements they wouldn't support McConnell's bill because it doesn't go far enough to address the rising cost of health care.

Repeal is progress.