Senate GOP leaders push the health care vote to after July 4

Senate Republican leaders shelved a vote on their health care bill Tuesday until at least next month, forced to retreat by a GOP rebellion that left them lacking enough votes to even begin debate.

“We will not be on the bill this week,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters in what was a remarkable reversal of plans to push one of President Donald Trump’s and the GOP’s top priorities through the chamber this week.

“But we’re still working toward getting at least 50 people in a comfortable place,” he said. That’s the number of GOP senators who must back the bill for it to survive, with all Democrats opposed.

“We’re got a lot of discussions going on, and I’m still optimistic we’re going to get there,” he added.

The bill would roll back much of President Barack Obama’s health care law. At least five GOP senators have said they would vote against even beginning debate.