US senators debate plans to replace Obamacare

The US Senate has started debating Republican proposals to repeal and replace President Barack Obama's signature healthcare policy.

Senators rejected the first of the plans under consideration many votes on the issue are expected this week.

Prior attempts to replace Obamacare have collapsed in recent weeks due to divisions in the Republican Party.

President Trump had made scrapping the policy a key campaign pledge. He says the system is "torturing" Americans.

On Tuesday night, the Senate began the debate-and-vote process, which is expected to last a number of days.

Nine Republicans voted against the first amendment - to repeal and replace Obamacare - and it failed to pass. The proposal, put forward by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, would have cut health insurance and subsidies for lower income groups.

Earlier, Mr Trump had warned his party's senators of the repercussions of not pushing through the measures to repeal and replace Obamacare, known formally as the Affordable Care Act.

He secured a victory on Tuesday when the Senate agreed to allow the debate on health care legislation reform to go forward, but only after Republican Vice-President Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking vote in support of the bill.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS