With a vote of 51 to 48, the Senate tonight passed the budget resolution that is a step toward repealing Obamacare. This bill instructs congressional committees to begin writing the Repeal bills.

Senator Rand Paul voted no with the Democrats. We’ll update the vote tally shortly.

This resolution is part of the process toward repeal. It triggers “reconciliation” and protects fiscal legislation from the filibuster, requiring only a simple majority.

Passage of the resolution was expected, and now the GOP can, using the same method used to pass Obamacare, repeal it. The bill instructs the House and Senate committees to begin crafting the bills that will dismantle the Affordable Care Act, and will now go to the House for a vote, where it is also expected to pass.

Democrats didn’t let the fact that they used this method for passing Obamacare in the first place stop them from making a dramatic show for their fandom, as Phil Kerpen noted on Twitter.

Democrats again disgrace themselves, break decorum by debating during a Senate vote.

— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) January 12, 2017

There were FIFTY HOURS of debate on this resolution. These Senate Democrats are petulant children.

— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) January 12, 2017

From protest sit-ins and hours of votes on Democrat resolutions (including on Medicare and Medicaid) meant to hurt Republicans in their home states, to breaking Senate decorum and good order by attempting to pretend there had been no debate, they put on a show. But it passed anyway.

Here’s a few reactions from the Senate:

I am pleased Congress has initiated the process to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. My full statement: https://t.co/ftrKojr9MC.

— Senator Bob Corker (@SenBobCorker) January 12, 2017

Tonight we took the first votes towards providing the American people with a health care system that works. My full statement: pic.twitter.com/mHVum7j25v

— Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) January 12, 2017

With today’s vote in the Senate, we are one step closer to a health care system that works for the American people. https://t.co/nBygeEsuZb

— Senator John Thune (@SenJohnThune) January 12, 2017

Tonight we are one step closer to repealing #Obamacare. #PromiseKept

— Steve Daines (@SteveDaines) January 12, 2017