Effort to repeal/replace Obamacare clears first Senate hurdle

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus arrive on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S. July 25, 2017. REUTERS/Eric Thayer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Tuesday voted to begin formal debate of healthcare legislation that would repeal major elements of Obamacare and possibly replace it with a less costly programme.

By a vote of 51-50, with Vice President Mike Pence breaking a tie, the Republican effort cleared an important procedural hurdle in the Senate, but it was still unclear whether there would eventually be enough votes to pass a bill.