Senate Votes to Defund Planned Parenthood, Repeal Key Obamacare Provisions

The Senate voted Thursday to repeal key provisions of Obamacare and strip federal funding from Planned Parenthood, approving legislation that is sure to be vetoed by President Barack Obama.

Senators voted 52-47 to pass the bill. Two moderate Republicans—Susan Collins of Maine and Mark Kirk of Illinois—joined Democrats in opposing the bill. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., was absent.

The legislation still must be approved by the House, which passed a different version in October. The White House said Wednesday that Obama will veto the bill if it reaches his desk.

Democrats say the 2010 Affordable Care Act—better known as Obamacare—has helped 17.6 million Americans gain medical coverage and has stopped insurance companies from refusing to insure patients with pre-existing conditions.