The Senate went into a very late-night session Wednesday night to enact a budget resolution viewed
to be the beginning of the end of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
As the New York Times explains,
Republicans are taking a series of steps to allow them to repeal the health care law
without facing a Democratic filibuster. Passing the budget resolution will set in motion
the process that, as drawn up by Republican leaders, will culminate in the passage of
legislation repealing major parts of the act.
The resolution will direct House and Senate committees to come up with that legislation
[which] will be packaged in what is called a reconciliation bill, which is not subject
to a filibuster. That’s critical, because Republicans have a 52-seat majority, and
overcoming a filibuster requires 60 votes.
Special rules apply to budget resolutions. Senators can offer an unlimited number of amendments . . .
and can consider dozens of amendments in quick succession, a task that can extend into the wee
hours of the night.
The The
Times later confirmed the Senate did exactly that, by a vote of 51 to 48.
Britbart reported that all of the Republicans,
save Sen. Rand Paul, voted for the resolution; all of the Democrats and two Independents voted
against.