WASHINGTON _ Senate Republicans will add a partial Obamacare repeal to their tax plan, using the revenues gained to further lower tax rates for the middle class.
Republicans announced the decision Tuesday after their policy lunch, saying they had widespread support among the Senate GOP for the proposal. A revised bill, which would do away with the Affordable Care Act's mandate that all Americans carry insurance, was expected to be released later Tuesday.
"We're optimistic," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota said the revenues would be used to push down tax rates.
"It'll be distributed in the form of middle income tax relief," he said.
A repeal of the individual mandate in the Affordable Care Act would save $338 billion in revenue from federal subsidies that would no longer be paid to help low- and middle-income Americans buy insurance policies.
