McConnell delays August recess in last-ditch effort to pass GOP health care bill

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced Tuesday that the Senate's August recess will be delayed as it attempts to fix and pass the GOP health care bill, according to The Hill.

The Senate had been scheduled to recess at the end of July, and return in September. However, McConnell has now pushed the recess back two weeks.

“In order to provide more time to complete action on important legislative items and process nominees that have been stalled by a lack of cooperation from our friends across the aisle, the Senate will delay the start of the August recess until the third week of August," he said.

Not only have Democrats loudly opposed the GOP bill to replace Obama, but also several Republicans senators have stated their opposition to the bill. GOP Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.), Mike Lee (Utah), Ron Johnson (Wis.), and Ted Cruz (Texas) released a joint statement  when the bill was revealed and declared their disapproval.

The four senators were later joined by moderates Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska). GOP Sens. Rob Portman (Ohio), Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.), and Dean Heller (Nev.) also announced their opposition to the legislation.

McConnell has tried to tempt moderates with additional spending to the bill, including increased billions in funding to combat the opioid crisis in an attempt to lure Portman and Capito back in. However, both senators said the increased spending is not enough and still refused to vote for the bill.

Provided the Democrats keep their promise to not vote for the bill, should any three Republicans refuse to support it, the GOP bill will fail.

Several GOP senators, including Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.), declared that the bill is likely dead.