Single-Payer Amendment Gets Zero Votes in Senate

INJOIn a Republican-backed effort to single out where Democrats lie on a contentious policy debate, an amendment to create a single-payer health care system failed with no affirmative votes in the Senate Thursday,

The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mon.), failed with zero yes votes. Four Democrats and one Independent voted against it, and the remainder of Democrats voted as “present,” to avoid taking a stance on the legislation.

Independent Maine Senator Angus King, who voted against the bill, said he did not want to participate in what he thought was a “set up.”

“The bill had way too many complications, so I didn't think it was a good bill, so I voted no. My job now is to try to keep the Affordable Care Act going, that's my focus,” King told reporters.

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) told reporters prior to the vote that he supported the idea of single-payer, but argued that the lack of debate on issues like health care is preventing the Senate from doing its job.

“That's why they should have actually bring these things before our committee and have that kind of debate in the committees that count. All the Senate has to do is do its job, and if we ever get back to doing our job maybe we'll have that debate,” Leahy said.

Read the full story on IJR.com


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