(Newser) – A Republican drive to repeal the year-old health care law ended in party-line defeat in the Senate today by a vote of 47-51. Republicans conceded in advance their attempt at total repeal would fall short, but they accomplished an objective of forcing Democrats to take a position on an issue that may play a role in 2012. Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell said the vote marked an opportunity for Democrats who voted for the bill last year "to listen to those who have desperately been trying to get your attention."

Harry Reid countered that the Republican repeal movement would "take away a child's right to get health insurance and instead give insurance companies the right to use asthma or diabetes as an excuse to take away that care." The Senate did agree to make one relatively minor change in the law, voting to strip out a paperwork requirement for businesses. President Obama has said he would accept the change. (Read more health care reform stories.)

