Alaska’s two U.S. Senators voted Wednesday night with the majority of their counterparts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare.
The vote, which passed the Senate 51-48, was officially a budget resolution that begins a multi-step process ending in the act’s elimination.
No replacement for the act is on the table.
By Friday, the House is expected to take up and pass the budget resolution passed by the Senate. Once that happens, the House will write a repeal bill, which is expected to pass by a large margin.
The Senate will then consider the repeal bill, and if it chooses to amend the House’s version, the House will be asked to consider the Senate’s version.
If the House rejects that version, the two different versions will go to a conference committee to be reconciled.
If both bodies agree on this compromise third version, the bill would head to President Donald Trump for approval or veto.
In a statement Thursday morning, Sen. Lisa Murkowski called her vote “a first and necessary step towards delivering better healthcare for Alaskans.”
She said the Affordable Care Act has not helped Alaskans or reduced health care costs.
Sullivan, in a statement of his own, said President Barack Obama promised lower costs and more choice in 2009.
“That has not proven to be true for millions across our country — and Alaska is ground zero. With skyrocketing premiums and deductibles and one provider left in the exchange, our healthcare system is in a downward spiral. The Affordable Care Act is not affordable for thousands of Alaskans,” he said.
Sullivan added that he’s committed to finding a replacement.
