Senate Deadlock: Both Parties' Health Care Bills Fail

The U.S. Senate reached a political standoff on Thursday, as both Democratic and Republican health care proposals failed to advance. A Republican bill aimed at lowering consumer health care costs was blocked. A separate Democratic bill to extend financial aid for Affordable Care Act insurance plans also did not move forward. The back-to-back failures highlight the continued deep divide between the two parties on how to fix the nation's health care system. Each side prevented the other's priority legislation from proceeding. With neither party holding a large enough majority to overcome procedural hurdles, the stalemate is expected to continue.