US Senate takes major step to repeal healthcare law

Washington

SENATE Republicans on Thursday took their first major step towards repealing the Affordable Care Act, approving a budget blueprint that would allow them to gut the healthcare law without the threat of a Democratic filibuster.

The vote, which concluded just before 1:30 am, was 51-48. During the roll call, Democrats staged a highly unusual protest on the Senate floor to express their dismay at the prosp…