President Trump once again called for the end of the legislative filibuster in the Senate in order to repeal the Affordable Care Act after the Senate Republican healthcare bill plan was stymied Monday.
“The Senate must go to a 51 vote majority instead of current 60 votes. Even parts of full Repeal need 60. 8 Dems control Senate. Crazy!” Trump tweeted.
The Senate must go to a 51 vote majority instead of current 60 votes. Even parts of full Repeal need 60. 8 Dems control Senate. Crazy!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2017
It echoes previous calls Trump has made to end the 60-vote threshold to end debate on a bill, but it wouldn’t fix the problem the Better Care Reconciliation Act faced in the Senate. The bill, written by GOP leaders, couldn’t get 50 votes for a procedural motion to make it to the floor for debate and amendments.
Trump has called for full repeal of the Affordable Care Act, but that isn’t possible without 60 votes in the Senate — and that would require Democratic help that doesn’t appear to be coming. Republicans control 52 votes in the upper chamber.
Trump has found his agenda frustrated by lukewarm Republican support in Congress and zero Democratic backing. He said earlier he had been “let down” by Democrats who refused to accept his agenda.
Republicans ended the 60-vote threshold to end debate on Supreme Court nominees earlier this year in order to confirm Justice Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court.
Instead, the key is Republicans taking more Democratic seats in 2018’s midterm elections to build the Republican majority, he said.
“With only a very small majority, the Republicans in the House & Senate need more victories next year since Dems totally obstruct, no votes!” he said.
With only a very small majority, the Republicans in the House & Senate need more victories next year since Dems totally obstruct, no votes!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2017
