U.S. Senate Republicans voted 51-50 to open debate on repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to a Politico report.
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) cast the 50th vote for the measure, but Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted against it, forcing Vice President Mike Pence to break the tie. No Democratic senators supported the motion, Politico said.
The vote to begin debate does not guarantee that Senate Republicans can come together and craft a viable healthcare plan; they still lack the necessary votes to pass such a bill, Politico said. Senate Republicans hope to repeal three parts of the ACA -- individual and employer mandates and the medical device tax -- and deliver an ACA repeal bill that will pass in the U.S. House of Representatives as well.
