Senate Republicans on Tuesday resuscitated their health care legislation for now, narrowly clearing it past a key test vote with the help of Sen. John McCain’s dramatic return to the chamber for the first time since his brain cancer diagnosis.
The Senate voted 51-50 to start debate, with Vice President Pence casting the tie-breaker. The procedural vote once again brings the ObamaCare overhaul legislation back from the brink of collapse, after intense prodding from President Trump who had pressured senators to skip recess until they act on health care.
The bill still faces a tough road ahead. But it was a heavy lift just to get to this point.
No Democrats supported the motion, leaving Republicans to corral the necessary 50 votes. They got exactly that, requiring Pence to break the tie, for the fifth time under the Trump administration.