Republican Sen. Rand Paul, MD, of Kentucky, on Wednesday voted against legislation designed to aid in the repeal of the ACA, reports USA Today.
The senator and physician voted against the legislation because the linked budget proposal would increase the federal debt over 10 years, according to the article.
"If I have to weigh the two problems, I actually think the debt is a more important problem than Obamacare," he said in the report.
Following Wednesday's Senate vote, the budget resolution, which includes the mechanisms to start repealing the ACA as well as general spending levels for the federal government over the next decade, will be debated for the next week, reports USA Today.
Sen. Paul isn't the only Republican lawmaker protesting the projected debt increase.
Sens. Mike Lee of Utah, Marco Rubio of Florida and Ted Cruz of Texas said they supported the 2017 budget resolution to repeal the ACA, but they want lawmakers to readdress the spending levels in the 2018 budget, reports USA Today.
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