Senate Republican plan to repeal, replace Obamacare fails to get enough votes

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – A plan to repeal and replace Obamacare that Senate Republicans have been working on for months failed to get the 60 votes needed for approval last night.

The vote was 43 in favour and 57 against. Nine Republicans voted against the measure.

The plan would have made deep cuts to Medicaid, the health insurance programme for the poor, and reduced Obamacare subsidies to lower-income people to help them defray the cost of health insurance.

It was the first of many expected votes this week on repealing or replacing elements of President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law.