Senate Republicans' health bill encounters another obstacle

The Republican effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act encountered yet another obstacle. The effort was already widely unpopular, with Democrats firmly opposing it. Two Senate Republicans also publicly declared their opposition to the Republican proposal, leaving a tenuous path to passing the bill by relying on a tie-breaking vote. Adding to all of that, Kaiser Health News reports that the Senate Parliamentarian has advised that several clauses require more than a simple majority to become law. Current Senate rules are that a super-majority of 60 votes are required for legislation to not be filibustered.

This assessment from the Parliamentarian seems like a significant setback to the Republican efforts. With many state health insurance exchanges experiencing aggressive premium increases, perhaps both sides will be motivated to work together towards a new policy. The notion of new and meaningful legislation having bi-partisan support seems quaint given the political climate over the last decade, but perhaps the process yields better and longer-lasting policies.