The Latest: McConnell praises new effort to repeal Obamacare

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the GOP effort to repeal former President Barack Obama’s health care law (all times local):

10:40 a.m.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is praising a last-ditch Republican bill to repeal and replace “Obamacare” — the latest sign the GOP’s repeal effort may be back from the dead.

McConnell calls the bill by Sens. Bill Cassidy and Lindsey Graham “an intriguing idea, and one that has a great deal of support.”

The bill would undo major elements of Barack Obama’s health care law and send block grants to the states instead. The Senate must act on the bill by Sept. 30 — or face a certain Democratic filibuster.

McConnell says the GOP’s ability to repeal the law after years of promises “may well pass us by if we don’t act.”

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3:28 a.m.

Top Senate Republicans say their last-ditch push to uproot President Barack Obama’s health care law is gaining momentum.

But the GOP has less than two weeks to succeed. And it still faces a tough fight to win enough rank-and-file support to overcome Democratic opposition and reverse the summer’s self-inflicted defeat on the issue.

Republicans commanding the Senate 52-48 would lose if just three GOP senators are opposed.

That proved a bridge too far in July. Three attempts for passage of similar measures fell short and delivered an embarrassing defeat to President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

McConnell has said he’d not bring another alternative to the Senate floor unless he knew he had the 50 votes needed. Vice President Mike Pence would cast the tie-breaking vote.

Source: www.apnews.com