The Senate has voted unanimously to move forward with its consideration of a spending resolution that would defund the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, despite Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) calling for a filibuster.
Following today's cloture vote, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has the opportunity to put forth an amendment stripping the legislation of the language that would cut off funding for the healthcare reform law.
The vote follows reports that Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) were resisting Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and other Republican leaders' efforts to speed up debate over the resolution. Sen. Cruz took to the Senate floor yesterday and gave a speech that lasted more than 21 hours opposing the PPACA in an attempt to delay consideration of the spending bill, according to a report from The Hill.
Sen. Cruz and some conservative groups had 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. However, Sen. McConnell won't block the bill because he supports defunding the PPACA while also funding the government without increasing spending, a spokesman told The Hill.
Federal lawmakers must pass a bill to fund the government before Oct. 1 to prevent a shutdown.
More Articles on PPACA Opposition:
Conservatives Resist Push to Speed Up PPACA Debate
Bill Would Require Federal Officials to Use PPACA Exchanges
Sen. McConnell Opposes Filibuster of Bill Defunding PPACA