Trying to ‘get the skinny’ on the Republican repeal healthcare bill vote in the midnight hour, a reporter accidentally dropped her notebook on a senator’s head.
A video posted on Twitter shows Senator Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), sitting next to Senator Ben Sasse (R-Nebraska), jumping after the notebook falls on his head from the press gallery, during the late-night vote on the healthcare repeal bill.
Haley Byrd of the Independent Journal Review tweeted later that it was her notebook and apologized to Scott and Sasse.
“I accidentally dropped my notebook. It's been a long day. (I'm sorry @SenatorTimScott and @BenSasse. I wasn't attacking u, I promise),” she said.
Byrd ought to aim for Sasse next time, Scott replied jokingly.
Spoofing the mishap, Senator Scott was later seen wearing a Congressional hard hat talking to Byrd.
After a debate and voting marathon lasting into the early hours of Friday, the Senate voted down the repeal bill 49-51, with three Republicans senators joining Democrats in voting ‘no’ – John McCain (R-Arizona), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R- Maine).
The Republicans were far short of the 60 or more they needed to avoid a filibuster.
The vote was a major defeat for Republican leaders.
“This is clearly a disappointing moment,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky). “I regret that our efforts were not enough, this time.”
“It’s time to move on,” he added.