Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and other Republican leaders have attempted to speed up debate over a spending resolution that would defund the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, but Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) have resisted, according to a report from The Hill.
Sen. Cruz has taken to the Senate floor and is giving a speech opposing the PPACA in an attempt to delay consideration of the spending bill, which House lawmakers passed last Friday. However, he doesn't have the 40 Republican votes necessary to stop the legislation from moving forward during today's scheduled cloture vote, according to the report. Federal lawmakers must pass a bill to fund the government before Oct. 1 to prevent a shutdown.
Sen. Cruz and some conservative groups have called for Republican senators to filibuster the bill to stop Democrats from setting up a vote to amend the legislation to strip it of the provision eliminating funding for the healthcare reform law. Sen. McConnell won't vote to block the bill because he supports defunding the PPACA while also funding the government without increasing spending, a spokesman told The Hill.
If Sen. Cruz and other conservatives make Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) go through a series of procedural votes, they could delay passage of the bill until late Sunday, according to the report. Sen. McConnell and others want to avoid that scenario, since it would give House lawmakers just one day to respond and avert a government shutdown.
More Articles on PPACA Opposition:
Sen. McConnell Opposes Filibuster of Bill Defunding PPACA
Democrats: Defunding PPACA Will "Wreak Havoc" on Federal Health Programs
House Passes Spending Bill That Would Defund PPACA