Crapo, Risch join bare Senate majority

Both Idaho Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch joined in the GOP’s bare majority in the Senate today to approve a motion to proceed with Senate health care legislation. The only two Republicans to dissent were Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine; Arizona Sen. John McCain returned from cancer surgery and cast a yes vote, then declared in a passionate speech that he wouldn’t support the bill as-is. Vice President Mike Pence broke the tie to advance the bill; that opens the door to debate over the next few days on a series of possible major amendments in what Senate-watchers call a “ vote-a-rama ”/ Betsy Russell , Eye on Boise. More here.