Senators defeat Obamacare repeal
Lawmakers meet to renew highway fund
WASHINGTON Senators, meeting in a rare Sunday session, defeated another Republican attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act and approved reviving the Export-Import Bank as they scrambled to renew the federal Highway Trust Fund before it runs out of money Friday.
Forty-nine senators voted in favor of the Obamacare repeal, while 43 opposed the amendment, which needed 60 votes to overcome a Democrat-led filibuster threat.
Before the vote, Sen. Ron Wyden, D- Ore., urged his colleagues to put partisan differences aside to keep the ACA in place.
The highway trust fund reimburses states for the cost of major road, bridge and mass-transit projects, which could come to an abrupt halt if Congress doesn’t act by the deadline Friday. The Senate adjourned until Monday after the two votes.
The Senate and House have been at odds over the best way to keep the highway fund from going broke.
The House passed a bill this month that would provide $8 billion to keep the trust fund solvent until Dec. 18. Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said he needs the fivemonth extension to try to forge a deal on a six-year highway bill that would be funded with changes in the tax code for multinational corporations.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he doesn’t want to pass another short-term fix. Congress has approved more than 30 short-term funding patches since 2009, making it difficult for states to plan and build major projects that take years to complete.
McConnell negotiated a bipartisan agreement with Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and James Inhofe, R- Okla., that would authorize six years of highway funding and pay for three years of that — about $47 billion — with money from general revenue.
Senators lined up last week to offer controversial amendments to the bill that had nothing to do with highway funding. Among them were plans by conservatives for amendments to end funding for Planned Parenthood and to take away employer contributions for congressional aides’ health cover- age under Obamacare. McConnell limited the unrelated amendments to two — the attempt to repeal the ACA and the revival of the expired Export-Import Bank. The Senate approved the amendment to revive the bank by a 67-26 vote.
If the Senate passes its bill, it’s not clear whether House leaders will take it up. Speaker John Boehner, R- Ohio, said Thursday that he would reserve judgment until he saw what the Senate approved. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, DCalif., said there isn’t enough time for the House to take up the Senate bill. She called on Senate leaders to pass a short-term extension to keep the Highway Trust Fund from running out of money.
Congressional leaders have balked at any increase in the gas tax, the primary source of federal highway funding. The government spends about $50 billion per year on transportation projects, but the 18.4-cents-per-gallon gas tax brings in about $34 billion, and lawmakers are wary of angering voters by raising the tax.
Americans pay an average of $324 a year in car repairs because of bumpy roads, and they waste about 38 hours a year in traffic jams that could be eased if roads were constructed, according to AAA.
About 65% of U.S. roads are rated in less than good condition, 25% of bridges need to be replaced, and traffic congestion costs motorists $121 billion a year in wasted fuel and productivity, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Senators lined up to offer controversial amendments that had nothing to do with highway funding.