Eliza Collins and staff report

WASHINGTON — The Senate narrowly agreed to take up Obamacare repeal legislation on Tuesday, as Majority Leader Mitch McConnell cajoled enough of his Republican colleagues to vote to move forward despite having no idea what the final bill will look like.

Without a single Democratic vote, 50 Republicans voted to begin Senate debate on a House-passed bill to repeal and replace Obamacare. That legislation — which President Trump has said is too “mean” — is not expected to survive in its current form because there will be an amendment process that will essentially replace the bill.

Nevada Sen. Dean Heller released a statement Tuesday saying he would vote "yes" on the motion to proceed with a Senate vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The procedural motion supported by Heller would allow the Senate to start debate on a health care bill, but by itself does not change or repeal the law.

"Obamacare isn’t the answer, but doing nothing to try to solve the problems it has created isn’t the answer either," the statement read. "That is why I will vote to move forward and give us a chance to address the unworkable aspects of the law that have left many Nevadans — particularly those living in rural areas — with dwindling or no choices.

"Whether it’s my ideas to protect Nevadans who depend on Medicaid or the Graham-Cassidy proposal that empowers states and repeals the individual and employer mandates, there are commonsense solutions that could improve our health care system and today’s vote gives us the opportunity to fight for them. If the final product isn’t improved for the state of Nevada, then I will not vote for it; if it is improved, I will support it."

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval said he has not changed his position on healthcare and will continue to discuss the impacts on Nevadans with Heller.

"My healthcare conversations have been focused on policy, not procedure," Sandoval said in a statement on Tuesday. "My policy position has not changed. I will continue to do all I can to protect the thousands of Nevadans whose lives are healthier and happier as a result of expansion of Medicaid.

"My health care team which includes staff and cabinet experts, have and will continue to review proposals offered in the Senate and discuss the potential impacts on Nevada with Sen. Heller and his staff."

Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine both voted no, leaving Vice President Pence to cast the tie-breaking vote to approve the motion.

The effort might have gained a boost after Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., returned to the Senate to take part in the health care vote.

Even if enough lawmakers back the legislation, the bill may not make it past the ultimate gatekeeper: the Senate parliamentarian.

Two different versions of legislation have been discussed.

The first option is the Better Care Reconciliation Act, which would repeal major parts of Obamacare and offer a replacement. It has been criticized by moderates for going too far in rolling back the Affordable Care Act and by conservatives for not going far enough.

Four Republican senators have already said they will vote against bringing this version of the legislation to the floor for debate; if more than two Republican senators vote no, the Senate will not be able to begin debate.

The second option is a repeal of the Affordable Care Act that would take effect at a future deadline. The goal is for lawmakers to have time to draft a replacement down the road, ideally before the effects of a repeal are felt. The House and Senate passed a version of this bill in 2015, but the vote was largely symbolic because lawmakers knew then-president Barack Obama would veto it.

Three senators have said they will not vote to proceed on legislation like this. Others have also expressed concern about repealing the health care law without a replacement ready.

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas, who is in charge of securing votes for the GOP, said that the substance of the bill — which would be decided by amendments — will be "further discussed" during Tuesday's Senate Republican lunch.

Cornyn expressed confidence that lawmakers would approve the "motion to proceed" but acknowledged it was "a very narrow path."