begin quote from:
McCain deals blow to Obamacare repeal
Axelrod: I cried when Obamacare passed
John McCain won't back Graham-Cassidy bill, likely ending GOP health care push
Story highlights
- Republicans had hoped to pass an Obamacare repeal before a deadline next week
- John McCain has twice halted efforts by his own party to advance health care bills
(CNN)Sen.
John McCain announced Friday in a statement that he cannot "in good
conscience" vote for the GOP's latest plan to overhaul Obamacare, likely
ending Republicans' latest effort to repeal and replace the Affordable
Care Act.
"I cannot
in good conscience vote for the Graham-Cassidy proposal," the Arizona
Republican said in a statement. "I believe we could do better working
together, Republicans and Democrats, and have not yet really tried. Nor
could I support it without knowing how much it will cost, how it will
(affect) insurance premiums, and how many people will be helped or hurt
by it. Without a full CBO score, which won't be available by the end of
the month, we won't have reliable answers to any of those questions."
McCain's
"no" vote makes it very likely Republicans won't be able to repeal and
replace Obamacare before September 30, as Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky
said he would not back the effort and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is
also expected to vote "no" on the proposal.
Republicans need at least 50 votes to pass the measure under the process of reconciliation.
McCain
was one of three most-watched members on the fence and considered a key
vote on the bill. Without his support, Republicans would need to get
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska, as well as Collins to
sign on. It's unlikely considering the fact that Collins said Friday
afternoon that she was leaning against the bill and had key concerns
that the legislation did not do enough to protect individuals with
pre-existing conditions.
"I'm leaning against the bill," Collins said Friday at a Portland, Maine, event, according to The Portland Press Herald.
McCain's
announcement comes despite that one of the bill's key sponsors -- Sen.
Lindsey Graham of South Carolina -- is a close confidant. The thinking
was if anyone could convince McCain to vote "yes," it would be Graham.
"I
take no pleasure in announcing my opposition. Far from it," McCain
said. "The bill's authors are my dear friends, and I think the world of
them. I know they are acting consistently with their beliefs and sense
of what is best for the country. So am I."
McCain
has said for weeks that he would not support health care legislation
that had not gone through "regular order," meaning Senate hearings, an
amendment process and a rigorous floor debate.
McCain
voted "no" on the last health care proposal in July for the same
reason. McCain's dramatic floor vote, which happened just weeks after he
was diagnosed with brain cancer, came in the early morning and was
captured as one of his most "maverick" moments in the Senate.
No comments:
Post a Comment