Could a health care vote happen soon? According to several insiders, and even some Senators, a vote next week in the Senate is a real possibility.
Senate Republicans are preparing to vote on Obamacare repeal next week, according to multiple sources familiar with the negotiations, potentially leaving rank-and-file lawmakers with no more than a week to review legislation that would affect millions of Americans and one-sixth of the U.S. economy.
Senators are expected to see the text of the bill as soon as the end of this week, those sources said, provided this week’s work goes smoothly. The timeline could change based on the response from individual senators toward the proposal at party meetings, but Republicans are increasingly optimistic they can hold a vote next week if this week’s lunch talks go well.
“I believed the majority leader when he said he’s going to take it up. I expect us to vote on it next week,” said Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.). “It’s close. Everybody’s been counting [votes] since the beginning. It’s been close since the beginning.”