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Senate Republicans unveil their version of the health care bill

Senate Republicans unveil their version of the health care bill
Posted at 11:02 AM, Jun 22, 2017
and last updated 2017-06-22 11:32:40-04

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans unveil health care bill scuttling Obama law, cuts Medicaid, slashes taxes for wealthy.

Senate Republicans have released a 142-page draft of their bill to eliminate much of the Obama health care law.

The measure would cut and revamp Medicaid, the health care program for lower-income and disabled people.

It would repeal tax increases Obama’s law imposed on higher-income people and medical industry companies to pay for expanded coverage. And it would end the tax penalty Obama’s statute imposes on people who don’t buy insurance — in effect, ending the so-called individual mandate.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is hoping to push the measure through the Senate next week. But its fate remains uncertain.

It faces uniform Democratic opposition. And at least a half-dozen Republicans — both conservatives and moderates — have complained about it.

RELATED: Senate to finally unveil secret health care bill

The closely guarded Senate health care bill written entirely behind closed doors became public Thursday as part of the Republican Party's efforts to repeal Obamacare.

The unveiling of the legislation marks the first time that the majority of the Senate GOP conference gets a comprehensive look at the health care proposal.

To read the bill in its entirety, click here.