WASHINGTON — The Senate voted today to begin debating legislation to repeal health care. Vice President Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking vote.



American Civil Liberties Union National Political Director Faiz Shakir had the following reaction:



“Today’s vote is enormously disappointing because any bill that takes health insurance away from tens of millions of Americans simply doesn’t deserve debate on the floor of the Senate.



“While we don’t yet know which amendments will get votes, we do know that every repeal bill being considered so far will throw tens of millions of Americans off their insurance and disproportionately impact women and people with disabilities. Bills that gut Medicaid and block patients from Planned Parenthood are assaults on the freedom and rights of millions of Americans, and they will be met with mass resistance.



“Today’s vote is also a call to action. It is a procedural first step, but not the final hurdle. The ACLU remains ever vigilant, hyper alert, and keenly engaged over the coming days, urging our millions of supporters to speak out at any moment and against any attempt to take health coverage away from those in our society who need it the most.”