Republicans assembled nearly enough votes to take up a bill to repeal Obamacare Tuesday afternoon

They secured 50 votes to move to the controversial bill

Vice President Mike Pence, who was presiding, cast a tie-breaking vote

Sen. John McCain, who got diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer, returned to the Senate from Arizona with a late vote to move to the bill

Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin was the last Republican to vote

Trump calls two GOP defectors 'very, very sad' for two GOP rebels

Trump ordered senators Monday from the bully pulpit of the White House to vote to begin debate on an Obamacare repeal bill today

But lawmakers don't even know what repeal route they're going to take

They could pursue legislation that would gut the existing health law now and delay the consequences for two years while they figure out a fix

Trump wants them to move ahead with legislation that seeks to meet both aims simultaneously but will take what he can get

'ObamaCare is torturing the American People. The Democrats have fooled the people long enough. Repeal or Repeal & Replace! I have pen in hand,' he said

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has a razor-thin margin for error

The GOP can lose two votes, if the vice president acts as a tie breaker, and come out ahead, now that John McCain has returned to the SenaThe

Senate Republicans assembled the votes to move to a controversial bill to repeal Obamacare Tuesday afternoon, with a last-minute boost from ailing Sen. John McCain.

The Senate moved to debate an Obamacare repeal bill by a vote of 50 to 50 – with Vice President breaking the tie.

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But protesters seized a key moment as the final vote approached by standing and pleading with lawmakers: 'Don't kill us, kill the bill.'

As the Senate clerk ticked through the votes on a pivotal motion to proceed to the health care bill, just two Republicans broke ranks: Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

Arizona Sen. John McCain speaks in the Senate after providing critical vote to take up Obamacare repeal

The GOP was able to withstand two, but not three, defections in order to take up the bill. Vice President Mike Pence cast the vote to break the tie once the GOP got 50 votes.

After the vote, President Trump cheered McCain for 'making the trip,' then unloaded on Collins and Murkowski.

'We had two Republicans that went against us, which is very sad, I think. It’s very very sad for them,' Trump said.

As for where the bill ends up, Trump was vague. 'We have a lot of options and a lot of great options,' he said.

Just two Republican senators, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, and McCain, had yet to vote for several minutes while the vote stood at 48 to 2, with all Democrats holding back.

Sen. John McCain provided a critical vote, giving Republicans 50 votes to debate their Obamcare repeal

As the vote stood at 48 to 2, Johnson stood in the Senate chamber speaking to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who announced the controversial strategy of moving to bring up a House-passed Obamacare repeal to open up debate.

Then, McCain made a dramatic entrance to the chamber, while his colleagues burst into applause. He flew back from Arizona, appearing in the Senate for the first time since his brain cancer diagnosis.

Immediately after delivering a critical vote to advance a key priority of Republicans and President Trump, McCain blasted the process that the GOP deployed to advance the legislation.

He criticized 'coming up with a proposal behind closed doors,' 'springing it on skeptical members,' and arguing that 'it's better than nothing.'

'We are not the president’s subordinates. We are his equal,' the 2008 GOP presidential nominee said, to a smattering of applause.

A protestor is escorted out of the United States Senate Chambers in plastic handcuffs by a US Capitol Police Officer after interrupting the vote on whether or not to proceed towards the repeal of the Affordable Care Act at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, United States on July 25, 2017

United States Capitol Police officer load protestors into an elevator after their arrest for protesting in the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill. The protesters oppose a senate republican effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act also known as Obama Care

President Donald Trump is predicting a 'great victory' for Republicans today in the Senate vote that will determine whether debate begins on an Obamacare repeal bill

As Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke in support of the motion, just as the clerk was about to take the pivotal vote, a group of more than 10 protesters stood up inside the the Senate visitor’s gallery.

‘Kill the bill! Kill the bill!’ they chanted, while stunned senators remained in their seats and watched on in silence.

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Capitol Police began removing the protesters one-by-one, but had to leave a large contingent while they brought others out of the chamber.

‘Shame! Shame! Shame’ the remaining protesters chanted while they’re cohort.

Immediately afterwards, a large group of Capitol Police were seen processing protesters with white plastic handcuffs.

‘This is a crime scene,’ said a member of the Senate Sargeant at Arms staff, who tried to push reporters and photographers away.

McCain returned to Washington Tuesday afternoon as they moved to take up a controversial House health care bill

President Donald Trump is predicting a 'great victory' for Republicans today in the Senate vote that will determine whether debate begins on an Obamacare repeal bill.

'ObamaCare is torturing the American People. The Democrats have fooled the people long enough. Repeal or Repeal & Replace! I have pen in hand,' Trump tweeted.

Sen. John McCain arrives in Washington, D.C. ahead of health care bill vote

The president also gave McCain a hero's welcome back to Washington on Tuesday as the Capitol braced itself for the vote that's a linchpin to Trump's domestic policy agenda.

McCain, who's recovering from brain surgery, could be the decider in the procedural motion that needs 51 votes to pass. The GOP holds 52 seats in the Senate and can lean on the vice president in case of a tie.

'So great that John McCain is coming back to vote. Brave - American hero!' Trump said of the man he once derided as 'not a war hero' because he was captured and held prisoner in North Vietnam.

The GOP holds 52 seats in the Senate and can lean on the vice president in case of a tie. It needs 51 votes to pass the motion to begin debate today

In the face of defeat, Trump said the man he once derided as 'not a war hero' because he was captured and held prisoner as a solider fighting in Vietnam was a 'Brave- American hero'

The president gave McCain a hero's welcome back to Washington on Tuesday as the Capitol braced itself for the vote that's a linchpin to Trump's domestic policy agenda

McCain, the chairman of the Armed Service Committee, announced his surprise return to Senate on Monday evening. He's expected to make his first appearance on the Hill today since a shock announcement that he has brain cancer.

Republican senators will huddle one last time before the vote at their weekly policy luncheon this afternoon. They plan to bring the motion to proceed to debate on Obamacare repeal sometime after 2 pm. Trump has a news conference scheduled for 3 pm Eastern.

He ordered senators yesterday from the bully pulpit of the White House to take the vote today.

'The American people have waited long enough. There has been enough talk and no action. Now is the time for action,' Trump demanded in remarks from the Blue Room. 'Obamacare has broken our system. It's broken. It's collapsing. It's gone. And now it is up to us to get great health care for the American people.'

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The president said a series of tweets on Tuesday that he's waiting with his pen to sign an Obamacare repeal bill.

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'Big day for HealthCare. After 7 years of talking, we will soon see whether or not Republicans are willing to step up to the plate!' he said. 'This will be a very interesting day for HealthCare. The Dems are obstructionists but the Republicans can have a great victory for the people!'

Trump warned legislators yesterday that they would feel the wrath of their constituents at the ballot box if they allow the nation's health care system to flatline.

'Any senator who votes against starting debate is telling the American people you are fine with the Obamacare nightmare,' he proclaimed before 'victims' of the health law. 'There is still time to do the right thing.'

Hammering once again on 'obstructionist' Democrats, Trump said, 'They run out, they say, "Death, death, death."

'Well, Obamacare is death. That's the one that's death. And besides that, it's failing so you won't have it anyway.'

Earlier on Monday Trump told Republicans that they're staring down their 'last chance' to get rid of Obamacare.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke before Republicans brought up a bill to repeal Obamacare

President Donald Trump ordered senators from the bully pulpit of the White House to vote to begin debate on an Obamacare repeal bill yesterday

'The American people have waited long enough. There has been enough talk and no action. Now is the time for action,' Trump demanded in remarks from the Blue Room

US President Donald Trump greets children of alleged 'victims of Obamacare' after delivering a statement on healthcare at the White House

Lawmakers must decide this week whether to vote on a bill that would gut the existing health law now but delay the consequences for two years while they figure out a fix or move ahead with legislation that seeks to meet both aims simultaneously

Lawmakers must decide this week they want to gut the existing health law now but delay the consequences for two years while they figure out a fix or move ahead with legislation that seeks to meet both aims simultaneously.

Once they vote on the motion to begin debate, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said lawmakers will have the opportunity to offer amendments that can take form of a House-passed Obamacare repeal and replace bill, a bill Senate-authored bill, clean repeal and whatever else they want to discuss.

'Frankly, if you don't like the bill, go down to the floor and offer amendments,' Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the president, said Tuesday on Fox.

First, the motion to proceed has to pass with at least 50 votes, with Mike Pence, the VP, acting as tie-breaker.

'I believe that we will,' Sen. John Barasso, the Republican Policy Committee chair, said on Fox News this morning. 'We're continuing to work with all of the members of the conference to get to that number.'

Conservative groups with deep pockets have said that the vote to proceed will be top of mind when they pull out their checkbooks next year. The president has also threatened legislators who vote against the measure with 'repercussions.'

'Republicans have a last chance to do the right thing on Repeal & Replace after years of talking & campaigning on it,' he said in a tweet on Monday morning.

Trump suggested with the message that the White House is ready to untether itself from the GOP's health care reform fiasco if senators don't come together. His patience stretched thin, Trump is ready to move on to other items on his agenda.

The president has already said he'd be willing to let Obamacare collapse as a tactic to force lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to the negotiating table at a later date.

If legislators can't agree on health care reform by the start of August recess, the Republican president has signaled he'll let the repeal effort peter out.

The House and the Senate have appropriations bills to pass and a debt ceiling to raise. Trump is still hopeful they'll take up a tax reform package, too.

HE'S BACK! McCain, who's recovering from brain surgery, could be the decider in the procedural motion that needs 51 votes to pass

A rainbow shines over the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Monday as lawmakers returned to Washington for today's health care vote

McConnell has committed to keeping legislators in his chamber in Washington for the first two weeks of the August break if that's what it takes to fulfill their repeal and replace promise.

The House is letting out at the end of the week, either way. Republicans in the lower chamber have already passed a health reform bill.

McConnell was adamant during a news conference last week at the White House that the Senate would vote to begin debate on the health care bill before the lengthy district work period.

What senators are voting on exactly, other than a motion to proceed, remained unknown as they came back to Washington at the beginning of the work week.

McConnell said in a floor statement Monday that 'the first vote we will soon take, is on whether or not to begin the debate at all.'

'I certainly intend to do so. I know many colleagues feel the same. I know many of us have waited years for this moment to finally arrive. And, at long last, it finally has,' he said. 'I would urge every colleague to join me. I know many have ideas on how to improve health care. Some of these ideas have real potential.'

The White House gave the Senate a firm push in that direction on Monday after the president's Blue Room speech.

'Senator McConnell has assured his members that the vote will occur and the president is adamant about moving forward and getting on a bill so that we can have the debate and have the discussion and move forward on behalf of the American people,' Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price said.

The former lawmaker told reporters riding Air Force One: ‘We look forward to a positive outcome tomorrow.'

‘We look forward to having at least 50 votes in the Senate, and the vice president will be there obviously tomorrow in order to break a tie if there is a tie. But you can’t begin to solve this challenge and crisis of Obamacare without voting to proceed on the legislation and having the debate,' Price said.

US President Donald Trump walks across the South Lawn of the White House before his departure to Beaver, West Virginia on Monday afternoon after his health care remarks

Some Members of Congress have complained that Trump was not engaged enough in the legislative process.

Price rejected their claims on Monday, saying Trump had ‘talked to virtually every Republican senator' and repeatedly had lawmakers over to the White House.

‘I think that the input that we have taken from senators has been extraordinary, and frankly unprecedented, having been involved in these healthcare conversations and debates for years,' Price said. 'This is the greatest amount of involvement by a president that I have ever witnessed one-on-one with the members of the Congress, both the House and the Senate.'

One of them, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, had opined on Sunday, 'We don't know whether we're going to be voting on the House bill, the first version of the Senate bill, the second version of the Senate bill, a new version of the Senate bill, or a 2015 bill that would have repealed the Affordable Care Act,' she commented on Sunday.

In the appearance on Face the Nation, Collins said, 'I don't think that's a good approach to replacing legislation that affects millions of people.'

McCain's expected absence as he battles brain cancer had left McConnell with a razor-thin margin for error. The GOP would have only been able to lose a single vote, if the vice president acts as a tie breaker, and come out ahead.

The vote is still tight - but McCain's presence makes all the difference. Two senators, Collins and Rand Paul, are believed to be no votes on the motion to proceed.

Collins indicated Sunday that she's likely to vote against whatever bill the GOP presents. Paul said he was willing to vote yes on a clean repeal bill - but that is it.

Trump has said he would prefer they take up the existing repeal and replace package, although he indicated Tuesday that he will take whatever he can get.

In his remarks from the Blue Room of the White House on Monday, Trump said Obamacare has caused 'nothing but pain.'

'So far Senate Republicans have not done their job in ending the Obamacare nightmare. They now have a chance, however, to hopefully, hopefully, fix what has been so badly broken for such a long time,' he said.

McConnell was adamant during a news conference last week at the White House that the Senate would vote to begin debate on a health care bill before the lengthy break. McCain's absence put the vote into jeopardy

'The Senate is very close to the votes it needs to pass a replacement. The problem is we have zero help from the Democrats. They're obstructionists. That's all they are. That's all they're good at, is obstruction. Making things not work.'

Lighting up the opposing party, Trump said, 'They say all the right things and then they do exactly what they're not supposed to be doing. The Democrats aren't giving us one vote.'

Trump said early on in his remarks that Obamacare had 'wreaked havoc' for the last 17 years, even though it was passed in 2010. He gave the correct amount of time moments later, seven years, as he railed against his predecessor's health care plan.

Democrats intend to reject the GOP's legislation, whatever it is, wholesale. That leaves the GOP to carry the entire load if it wants to push through Obamacare repeal.

Anthony Scaramucci, the incoming White House Communications director, said Friday in his first appearance at the White House podium that he believes senators will do what the president is asking of them.

'I predict that the President will get a win in healthcare. That's my honest prediction just because I’ve seen him in operation over the last 20-plus years. The President has really good karma, okay? And the world turns back to him,' Scaramucci claimed.

'He’s genuinely a wonderful human being, and I think as the members of Congress get to know him better and get comfortable with him, they're going to let him lead them to the right things for the American people. So I think we're going to get the healthcare done.'

Continuing, he said, 'I also think we're going to get tax reform done. And whatever else is on the President’s agenda, we're going to work very, very hard, very studiously here to make it happen.'

What senators are voting on exactly, other than a motion to start debate, is unknown. 'I don't think that's a good approach to replacing legislation that affects millions of people,' Sen. Susan Collins said Sunday. She's seen arriving at the Capitol on Tuesday

The White House said last week that it would like the Senate to move on health care reform before it turns to the president's tax package.

'I think it becomes easier to do comprehensive tax reform after healthcare for political reasons, for reasons of momentum and so forth,' Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney told reporters on Thursday.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said from the podium on on Wednesday, 'I don’t believe it has to wait, but that’s certainly the preference.'

Trump hinted yesterday that he would change his position if the Senate continues its deliberations on Obamacare beyond the August recess when he tweeted that it was Republicans' 'last chance' to make something happen.

He cautioned his party Sunday that their failure to deliver would come at a cost.

'If Republicans don't Repeal and Replace the disastrous ObamaCare, the repercussions will be far greater than any of them understand!' he said.

Trump's legislative director, Marc Short, said last week that Trump was not making thinly-veiled threats at GOP lawmakers when he made needling comments about their reelection chances - he just wants them to do what they said they would.

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'The President has been pretty direct in his words, and he's right now saying, this is what you promised. I want to live up to my promise. I'm ready to sign the bill. Get me the bill so we can get this done for the American people and then we can also move on to tax reform and other items that are part of our agenda,' Short asserted.