Members of Congress frequently face the dilemma of deciding whether or not to waste time passing laws they know will be vetoed by the president, versus avoiding the criticism they would receive if they did nothing. Adding to the dilemma, sometimes there are procedural tricks that can throw an unexpected monkey wrench into the whole process. Although it may appear on the surface that a president will veto a bill, things could change between the time the bill passes Congress and when it appears on the president’s desk, including changing the language and making a deal with him on other bills in order to gain his support on a particular one.

On Thursday, the Senate passed a fast-track measure by a vote of 52-47 that would defund Planned Parenthood for a year and dismantle parts of Obamacare. While Obama is sure to veto it, Republicans have been under intense pressure from conservatives to do something, due to the release of 10 undercover videos exposing Planned Parenthood selling fetal body parts. After the ouster of moderate Republican John Boehner as speaker by the newly powerful conservative House Freedom Caucus, Republicans in the Senate have grudgingly started paying attention to the conservative wing.

It was a pretty big accomplishment that the slower moving, less conservative Senate was able to get this bill passed. It is even more striking considering getting bills passed that have little chance of being signed into law still creates a voting record that can be used against elected officials come election time.

It was passed as a reconciliation bill, which allowed a vote without a filibuster option and required only a majority necessary for passage. Democrats attempted to add gun control amendments and, ironically, an amendment to revive Planned Parenthood funding, but the amendments were all defeated.

Several conservative senators, including Sens. Ted Cruz, Mike Lee and Marco Rubio, had to be persuaded to support the bill because they objected to it not fully defunding Obamacare. The vote split almost completely down party lines, with liberal Republicans Sens. Mark Kirk of Illinois and Susan Collins of Maine voting against it due to defunding Planned Parenthood.

The Daily Caller describes the contents of the bill:

The legislation would repeal the individual and employer mandates, Cadillac tax, medical device tax, and eliminate the Independent Payment Advisory Board. It would also put an end to the ACA’s Medicaid expansion.

The House passed a version of the bill in late October. Now the bill will return to the House in order to draft and pass a version similar to the Senate’s. Obama has already stated his intent to veto the bill. Considering elections are coming up in the fall, putting members of Congress on the record on this bill – even if it has no chance of surviving – will make a huge difference in midterm elections.