Byrne Votes to Advance Obamacare Repeal

Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-AL) voted today in favor of a resolution to move forward the process of repealing Obamacare.

Congressman Byrne noted that today’s vote was the first step in fulfilling an important promise made to the American people.

Byrne said: “Over the last few years, Republicans around the country have campaigned on repealing Obamacare and instead moving forward with patient-centered health care reforms that lower costs for American families. Today’s vote was an important first step in that process.

“It is important to remember that this will be a multi-step process, but Congress must act. Obamacare is imploding before our eyes. Premiums have skyrocketed, deductibles are unaffordable, and patients have fewer and fewer health care options. This process is about addressing those issues and bringing real relief to the American people.”

The resolution passed today instructs the relevant committees in the House of Representatives and the Senate to begin work on the Obamacare repeal legislation. The process, known as reconciliation, is necessary to overcome the 60 vote threshold in the Senate, where Republicans have only 52 seats. Bills moved through the reconciliation process must be budgetary in nature, but they only require a simple majority vote to pass in the Senate.

The resolution passed the Senate earlier this week and does not require the president’s signature.