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Repeal And Replace: How Will Your Senator Vote on Health Care?

The U.S. Senate is considering legislation that would repeal and replace Obama's law, and a separate bill that would simply repeal "Obamacare" with a two-year delay for implementation to give Congress more time to agree on a replacement.

President Donald Trump increased pressure on Senate Republicans Monday, claiming Tuesday’s health care vote is their “last chance to do the right thing” and repeal former President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Two options are on the table: a full repeal, and a separate bill that would repeal Obamacare with a two-year delay for implementation to give Congress more time to agree on a replacement. It remains unclear which version will be considered Tuesday.

Both iterations have encountered opposition from enough GOP senators to doom the effort, but third-ranking Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell is making a last-gasp attempt this week after Trump insisted that senators not leave town for the August recess without sending him some kind of health overhaul bill to sign.

In the Senate, Republicans hold a 52-48 majority. They can only afford to have one of their senators defect and still prevail on a health bill, assuming that Republican Sen. John McCain remains in Arizona, where he's being treated for brain cancer. Democrats are standing united in opposition.

So how will your lawmaker likely vote? Below is a breakdown of where senators in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware stand on the looming bill:

PENNSYLVANIA

Sen. Bob Casey

The Democrat from Scranton has been a vocal opponent of "Repeal and Replace." Earlier this month, he released a statement lambasting his Republican colleagues in the Senate:

“Instead of working in a bipartisan way, Senate Republicans have continued to meet in secret after the light of day showed their health care scheme to be a bad deal for our families and a bonanza for the super-rich. The latest version of this scheme does not change the fact that it still sells out the middle class, seniors, children and individuals with disabilities; Pennsylvania families will pay more for less health care coverage with fewer protections.

More recently, Casey softened his tone and told audience members at a townhall that Washington is listening to their concerns:

“If there is any upside to this debate, we learned that Medicaid is not a ‘them’ program; it’s an ‘us’ program,” he said. “That was not clear to people in Washington until the last couple of weeks, really. They started hearing from folks who said ‘Medicaid is us,’ people of great means with health care, but who can’t afford services or therapies for a child with a profound disability.”

Sen. Pat Toomey

The Lehigh County senator has stood behind "Replace and Repeal," and vowed to vote in line with fellow Republicans.

"Obamacare is failing. In Pennsylvania, Obamacare premiums are up 120 percent and 40 percent of our residents are limited to one insurer on the exchange. Families are still in dire need of relief. Meanwhile, Medicaid is fiscally unsustainable as its costs continue to grow faster than our economy.

"I intend to vote to proceed to a full Obamacare repeal bill that would take effect in two years so that Congress can use this time to craft a legislative replacement and move toward a consumer-driven health care system.

DELAWARE

Sen. Chris Coons

Sen. Chris Coons is against repealing the ACA, but would like to see a bipartisan solution to the congressional divide moving forward.

“If we succeed in stopping this bill, then we have to have a conversation about what’s the best alternative,” Coons said on Capitol Hill in June. “But I think we should stay focused on helping our constituents understand what is wrong with [the GOP bill].”

Sen. Tom Carper

Sen. Tom Carper is also pushing for a bipartisan bill that could satisfy both sides of the aisles.

“If there are not the votes to move forward, then I think you will find plenty of Democrats and Republicans who will work together,” he said last week.

NEW JERSEY

Sen. Cory Booker

The New Jersey junior senator demanded that Republicans abandon their mission to replace Obamacare after the Senate’s first version of a healthcare bill fell apart earlier this month.

He believes the ACA can be improved, but should not be repealed.

“Every American must remain vigilant against further efforts to attack and undermine the lifesaving progress made thanks to the Affordable Care Act, and demand that Republicans work in a good faith, bipartisan manner to reduce the cost of, expand access to, and improve the quality of health care for all Americans,” he said.

Sen. Bob Menendez

A member of the Senate Finance Committee, Menendez helped author the ACA.

“It took nearly a year of hard work and compromise with both Republicans and Democrats to get it done,” he wrote in a recent column. “At the time, I warned that it didn’t do enough to guarantee affordability, and that not including a public option would drive up costs for consumers. But even with these concerns, I voted for it because I knew it would make a huge difference in people’s lives.”

He is now calling for Republicans to work more closely with Democrats to build a more sustainable health care system.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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