Senate Republicans doubtful of American Health Care Act

International Desk: Republican senators are sounding sceptical of an Obamacare replacement passed by members of their own party in the House of Representatives.

The measure brings President Donald Trump's party a step closer to scrapping the law, but it will probably face major amendments in the Senate.

One Republican senator said a final version will be "near impossible".

Democrats warn the bill will strip insurance from millions of Americans and send costs rocketing.

The American Health Care Act passed the House of Representatives by 217-213 on Thursday without support from a single Democrat.

It marked Mr Trump's first legislative victory and goes some way to keeping a key campaign promise to roll back his predecessor's signature healthcare reform.

But several Republican congressman who voted for their measure admitted they did not even read it.

"Oh, gosh," said Virginia congressman Thomas Garrett when asked on MSNBC whether he had perused the text of the far-reaching legislation.

"I don't think any individual has read the whole bill," he said. "That's why we have staff."
In a celebration at the White House after the vote, President Trump declared that Obamacare was dead.

Hours later, Mr Trump raised eyebrows when he praised Australia's government-funded healthcare system during a meeting with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in New York.

Progressive critics including Senator Bernie Sanders quickly pointed out Australia's universal healthcare, a system in which Republicans have long attacked.

Source: Agencies



risingbd/May 6, 2017/Mukul