The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

» How Johnny Isakson and David Perdue voted on health care this week,

2 senators backed every GOP health bill up for vote.

- By Tamar Hallerman tamar.hallerman@ajc.com

WASHINGTON — Georgia’s two Republican U.S. Senators, Johnny Isakson and David Perdue, backed every major health care bill their party brought up for a vote this week as the GOP wrestled with how to follow through on its campaign promise to repeal Obamacare.

None of those proposals won enough support for passage, and the effort came to a screeching halt shortly before 2 a.m. on Friday morning, when a strippeddo­wn plan seen as a lastditch option fell short. As lawmakers departed for the weekend, it was unclear how they would proceed.

Both Perdue and Isakson have made replacing the 2010 law a top item on their agendas.

Perdue, who was presiding over the Senate chamber on Friday morning when the final GOP bill was rejected, was sharply critical of the end result.

“Throughout this entire process, we have witnessed everything that’s wrong with Washington,” the first-term Republican said in a statement. “Now, due to an unworkable budget process and politician­s who put their political self-interests ahead of national interest, Obamacare remains the law of the land.”

Here’s a breakdown of each key vote:

‘Skinny’ repeal — Friday An early morning vote to scrap Obamacare’s individual and employer mandates, as well as its medical device tax, but keep in place other aspects of the 2010 law, most notably its Medicaid expansion.

Rejected 49-51, with all Democrats and three Republican­s voting against.

■ Isakson — yes

■ Perdue — yes

Repeal and delay — Wednesday

A vote to repeal large swaths of Obamacare and delay implementa­tion for two years as lawmakers presumably settle on a replacemen­t. Rejected 45-55, with seven Republican­s and all 48 Democrats against.

■ Isakson — yes

■ Perdue — yes

Senate GOP replacemen­t + Cruz plan + Medicaid money — Tuesday

A late-night vote on the Senate’s revised Obamacare replacemen­t bill, with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s proposal to allow insurers to sell cheaper, bare-bones health plans and a provision backed by moderate Republican­s to set aside an additional $100 million for states to help people losing their Medicaid coverage. Rejected 43-57, with nine Republican­s and all Democrats against. Proposal needed 60 votes to pass.

■ Isakson — yes

■ Perdue — yes

Begin debate — Tuesday An up-or-down vote on whether to kick off debate on a GOP health care rewrite. Passed the chamber 51-50 after Vice President Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking vote. Two Republican­s voted against the effort, as did every Democrat.

■ Isakson — yes

■ Perdue — yes

 ??  ?? U.S. Senators David Perdue (left) and Johnny Isakson
U.S. Senators David Perdue (left) and Johnny Isakson

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