Michael McAuliff, Kaiser Health News
The ACA gave states the option to put their own stamp on the law and Kentucky was the only Southern state that chose to do so with Kynect.
Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, cast the two other Republican "no" votes in a cliffhanger drama that ended just before 2:00 a.m. Friday.
With a $133 billion in deficit reduction needed and CBO score of $321 billion in savings, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has money for deal making to get votes.
McConnell's 'Better Care Reconciliation Act' appears to hide the new law's impact on the public for as long as possible to protect lawmakers and their electoral calendar.