Trump wins vital vote to ditch Obama health law

DONALD Trump last night came a step closer to fulfilling his campaign pledge to repeal and replace Obamacare, the key element of his predecessor’s health policy.

Republicans narrowly passed their alternative healthcare bill in the US House of Representatives, giving President Trump his biggest legislative victory.

No Democrats voted for the bill, but the Republicans obtained just enough support to push it through on a 217-213 vote.

The bill now faces a tough fight in the Senate, where the Republicans have a slender four- seat majority in the 100-seat chamber and where just a few defections could sink it.

Jubilant Republicans celebrated what they hope will soon be the demise of Obamacare by singing the pop song Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye as the end of the voting neared. Republicans have promised to erase Barack Obama’s law since it was introduced in 2010 to improve access to health insurance for US citizens.

Mr Trump pledged to repeal Obamacare repeatedly during his election campaign but polls had shown a public distaste for the effort and a gain in popularity for Mr Obama’s policy.

Democrats said Republicans would pay a price in next year’s congressional elections.

The House of Representatives also passed a £774billion measure to finance government agencies until September. Certain passage through the Senate will head off a weekend federal government shutdown that both parties preferred to avoid.

The House also voted overwhelmingly – 419-1 – to impose new sanctions against North Korea, targeting its shipping industry and use of slave labour.

Yesterday’s move comes as tensions mount over North Korea’s advancing nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

‘They will pay a price in elections’