Healthcare repeal bid fails

In a stinging blow to President Donald Trump, Senate Republicans failed yesterday to dismantle Obamacare, falling short on a major campaign promise and perhaps ending a seven- year quest by their party to gut the healthcare law. Three Republican senators, John McCain, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, crossed party lines to join Democrats in a dramatic 49- to- 51 vote to reject a “skinny repeal” bill that would have killed some parts of Obamacare. The setback leaves Trump without a major legislative win after more than six months in power.

The US House yesterday passed a $ 788 billion ($ 1.05 trillion) spending bill that combines a US$ 1.6b down- payment for Trump’s controversial border wall with Mexico with a whopping budget increase for the Pentagon. Challenging hurdles remain in front of the measure, however, which will meet with more powerful Democratic opposition in the Senate. Trump promised at nearly every rally and campaign event that Mexico would pay for the wall. Mexico said no, and US taxpayers will have to provide the money.

The Senate’s decisive vote to approve a new package of stiff financial sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea sends the popular bill to Trump, who will be under pressure to sign it after weeks of intense negotiations. The Senate passed the bill, 98- 2, two days after the House pushed the measure through by an overwhelming margin, 419- 3.