Republican’ healthcare bill threat as vote delayed

Senate Republican leaders are delaying a vote on their prized healthcare bill until after the 4 July recess, forced to retreat by a rebellion that left them lacking enough votes to begin debating the legislation, two sources said.

Senate majority leader Mitch Mcconnell deliveredthemessagetorepublican senators at a private lunch attended by vicepresident Mike Pence and White House chief of staff Reince Priebus, according to a Republican aide and another source.

All Republican senators were planning to travel to the White House later to meet with President Donald Trump, one source said. Mr Mcconnell had hoped to push the measure through his chamber by the end of this week, before an Independence Day recess.