Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said on Friday that he would not vote for the Graham-Cassidy health care bill.
McCain criticized the GOP’s latest efforts by saying the Senate should not be “content” to pass health care legislation on a “party-line basis” — and his decision effectively destroys any hopes Republican leaders maybe have that this current bill will replace Obamacare.
I cannot in good conscience vote for the Graham-Cassidy proposal. 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 effect 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.
This is the second time McCain has swooped in at the last minute to save Obamacare from repeal in the Senate. In July, McCain voted against the “skinny” repeal of Obamacare because he didn’t believe it would reform the health care system — the bill failed by one vote.
The most stunning part of McCain’s decision to save Obamacare is that he campaigned in 2016 on repealing the disastrous health care law.
A television ad approved by John McCain last year attacked opponent Ann Kirkpatrick for being proud of voting for Obamacare while the ad states “John McCain is leading the fight to stop Obamacare.”