McCain won't back Graham-Cassidy bill, likely ending GOP health care push
Too early to pop the champagne--we are not sure of lisa murkowski, nor Susan Collins (says leaning to no vote)
https://www.apnews.com/41a6c9068d454a15a47ec728fa51a4fc/The-Latest:-Rand-Paul-responds-to-Trump%27s-tweet
11 a.m.
Sen. Rand Paul says despite President Donald Trump’s attacks on him for opposing the new GOP health care bill, the measure is a “fake” and he won’t support it.
The Kentucky Republican says in an interview with The Associated Press that the White House “just wants a legislative victory, they’re not as concerned with the policy” in the bill. He says the measure doesn’t really repeal President Barack Obama’s health care law because it leaves most of its tax increases intact.
Trump tweeted Friday that Paul or other Republicans who vote against the bill will “forever ... be known as ‘the Republican who saved ObamaCare.’”.................................
John McCain won't back Graham-Cassidy bill, likely ending GOP health care push
http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/22/politics/john-mccain-health-care/index.html
Lauren Fox
By Lauren Fox, CNN
Updated 2:19 PM ET, Fri September 22, 2017
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............................
= new reply since forum marked as read
