McCain to vote no on Obamacare Repeal

[George II]

Source: The Hill

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) announced on Friday that he will vote against the latest GOP effort to repeal ObamaCare, potentially dooming the legislation.

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," he said in a statement, referring to the legislation spearheaded by GOP Sens. Lindsey Graham (S.C) and Bill Cassidy (La.).

McCain's announcement leaves GOP leadership with no room for error. They need 50 GOP senators to support the legislation, and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has already said he will vote no. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) on Friday said she is leaning against the bill.

Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/351931-mccain-to-vote-no-on-obamacare-repeal

---

Thanks to Elliot Rosewater for the link.

That probably makes the three we need - John McCain, Rand Paul, and Susan Collins. Who knows, there may be more.

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. .

http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/351931-mccain-to-vote-no-on-obamacare-repeal

[George II]

2. Thank you sir! CNN read his entire statement (very long) but still doesn't have it up.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. NY Times has their breaking up

McCain Announces Opposition to Republican Health Bill, Likely Dooming Its Fate

By THOMAS KAPLAN SEPT. 22, 2017




WASHINGTON — Senator John McCain of Arizona announced on Friday that he would oppose the latest proposal to repeal the Affordable Care Act, leaving Republican leaders with little hope of succeeding in their last-ditch attempt to dismantle the health law.

Mr. McCain, who killed the previous repeal effort with his dramatic “no” vote in July, released a statement saying he would not support the latest proposal, by Senators Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who is Mr. McCain’s closest friend in the Senate.

“I cannot in good conscience vote for the Graham-Cassidy proposal,” Mr. McCain said. “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.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/22/us/politics/mccain-graham-cassidy-health-care.html

[RedSpartan]

3. Country First

Thank you, Senator.

[George II]

10. I've had problems with him from time to time, but he does side with the country first.

No one is perfect, but he's a good American, certainly better than 95+% of the other republicans.

[RedSpartan]

16. I often disagree with him

but he's practically spent his entire life, cradle to the grave, in service to his country. I respect that.

[olegramps]

39. When people are faced with their own death, often they become far more compasionate.

I had two acquaintances who were very macho and talked big. Both very unexpectently came down with terminal cancer. It was totally amazing how the mellowed virtually overnight. The swagger magically disappeared along with their gruff tough man attitudes. They became as meek as little kittens. Perhaps this is what McCain is experiencing.

[dalton99a]

5. Excellent news

[marylandblue]

6. I bet Murkowski will be a no

Preserves her position to get special concessions later if she needs them.

[janx]

34. The governor of Alaska was interviewed on NPR yesterday.

He's against it.

I predict that once again, she votes NO.

[Promee]

41. All she has to do is say,

"The party offered me a special concession. The ACA is apparently so terrible they've offered to insert a provision into this bill that allows Alaskans to keep the ACA."

"After exercising basic logic, I've come to the conclusion that Alaskans will also maintain the access to the ACA that they now enjoy if I vote 'No' on this bill."

[marylandblue]

7. I hope he survives his brain cancer

But facing death seems to have made him a better person.

[Promee]

11. He doesn't have to care...

...about re-election anymore.

Either way this is his last term, so he gets to occasionally be the man he wants people to believe he is.

[Promee]

8. That's two.

Collins or Murkowski and the horror is over.

[AnotherMother4Peace]

14. I believe Collins said "no". In the past Murkowski said she would not be bribed. Hope she meant it.

[Promee]

15. Well, according to the front page here.

She's still "looking at the fine print."

But maybe McCain coming out firmly will give her some spine.

[AnotherMother4Peace]

17. Welcome to DU - That makes me nervous. She seems to be a straight shooter, BUT she's also

a Republican, and quite frankly they are neither honorable nor truthful.

[Promee]

24. Thank you.

I'm at least hopeful that she was perhaps just waiting to see what the likes of McCain would do.

But, honestly, I don't and won't trust that this is over until October 1st.

[AnotherMother4Peace]

26. Correction - Collins is "leaning" No, per MSNBC just now.

[sheshe2]

9. I just got the update on my phone!

Good news, thank you George....and a huge middle finger to Graham and Cassidy.

[mcar]

12. This is a welcome surprise

I really thought he'd support his pal Lindsey.

[onetexan]

13. same here, they sure know how to make us worry with suspense don't they

[Javaman]

18. sighted sub, sank same LOL nt

[bucolic_frolic]

19. Responsibility!

Republicans don't want to be responsible for the demise of Obamacare.

But they want the money from it.

And they want to blame Obama even if there's no blame to it.

And they want to appease Trump.

And they want to be popular and be re-elected.

They are dancing a delicate dance to appear to come so close to repeal so as to appease their base, all the while escaping blame with the general public, and fearing Trump's blather.

That's why it won't pass. They don't want responsibility. If Democrats were with them, they'd do it. But taking the fall for something unpopular? NEVER!

Real legislation has meat behind it. Facts, numbers, implications, deliberation, research. This is UnHelpful Hamburger without the beef.

[Rollo]

20. PRAISE THE LORD!

.

[BigmanPigman]

21. Nothing is definitely so DO NOT TRUST THEM! Keep calling non stop.

These people want to lull you into a false sense of security, like they did after the July vote. Many, not me, relaxed and thought it was a final victory. I have SOOOOO much to lose and haven't rested all summer. McConnell must have a win and the super rich donors already paid the GOP for a promised tax cut and they will not give up. STAY VIGILANT!!! Do not get fooled! Money talks louder than constituents' phone calls.
[phone] Call, call, call!! PLEASE!

[tblue37]

30. They tried to sneak it through, but the public got wind of it. nt

[Rollo]

22. Nothing like a terminal illness to raise one's awareness...

.

[videohead5]

23. If they can't flip

Rand Paul the bill is dead...but don't quit calling until it's dead for sure.

[Promee]

25. Anything is possible with the GOP.

But I don't see Paul flipping.

He may Libertarian huff and Libertarian puff about how he can't vote for it because it doesn't go far enough, but, there are two facts at play:

- Kentucky loves them some Kynnect.

- Kentucky will lose a lot of money on this deal.

And if he votes to kill it he'll pay for it. Or at least he's frightened enough that he'll pay for it that he's not voting for Deathcare.

[videohead5]

31. Yeah

Paul is taking a hard right line to keep from voting for anything.

[briv1016]

27. I still won't breath easy till the 1st.

[Judi Lynn]

28. Healthcare stocks are rising after John McCain dealt a major blow to the Republican healthcare bill

Graham Rapier

16m

Healthcare stocks got a boost Friday afternoon when Senator John McCain of Arizona spoke out against the proposed Graham-Cassidy healthcare bill, which is currently making its way through the Senate.

McCain, who dealt the final blow to Republicans’ previous attempt at repealing the Affordable Care Act, said lawmakers “should not be content to pass health care legislation on a party-line basis.”

His statement sent the S&P 500 healthcare index, which consists of 10 stocks, up 0.45%.

More:
http://www.businessinsider.com/healthcare-stocks-rising-after-mccain-deals-blow-to-republican-bill-2017-9?r=UK&IR=T

[still_one]

29. Thank-you Senator McCain. A lot of people are going to be very thankful to you, Senator Collins,

and Senator Murkowski if you all vote no

[GaryCnf]

32. We may disagree on many things friend

But one things Democrats know how to do is cheer together.

THANK YOU for posting this news.

[Stuart G]

33. This no vote,,and if there really are 3, will save thousands of lives..of people in the U.S.A..

Lives of people we don't know, lives of 3 and 5 year olds, and lives of all the rest of the variations of people here in this country...20 year olds, on parents insurance, 25 year olds on parents insurance..whoever, wherever, and whenever....It is nice to see the Republicans loose on an awful proposal....

If this law, ObamaCare, had some other name...Like, McConnell Care...

We would not be having this conversation....exact same law, different name...
think about that one for a while........................

[DesertRat]

35. I appreciate my Senator listening to our calls, texts, faxes, etc.

And putting the country over his party!

Too bad our other senator, Flake, won't do the same.

[safeinOhio]

36. Waiting for turtle face to

cancel the vote. Then we will know for sure. He may wait until the day before, but won't allow a vote if he doesn't have the votes.

[riversedge]

37. Shivving Repeal, McCain Tells Congress To Return To Bipartisan Obamacare Fix

Alice Ollstein?Verified account @AliceOllstein 6m6 minutes ago

In his letter shivving the Graham-Cassidy repeal, McCain tells Congress to go back to talks on a bipartisan ACA fix
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/mccain-obamacare-repeal-stabilization …

Link to tweet

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/mccain-obamacare-repeal-stabilization


Shivving Repeal, McCain Tells Congress To Return To Bipartisan Obamacare Fix

Cliff Owen/FR170079 AP


By Alice Ollstein Published September 22, 2017 3:44 pm


In his statement Friday sticking a knife in the GOP’s last-ditch effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) pleaded with his colleagues—again—to return to following basic Senate lawmaking procedure and work together across the aisle. Specifically, he called for the resumption of negotiations between Democrats and Republicans on a bipartisan fix for Obamacare’s vulnerable markets that Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) abruptly called off earlier this week amid GOP fervor for another whack at repeal.


“Senators Alexander and [Patty] Murray have been negotiating in good faith to fix some of the problems with Obamacare. But I fear that the prospect of one last attempt at a strictly Republican bill has left the impression that their efforts cannot succeed,” McCain said. “I hope they will resume their work should this last attempt at a partisan solution fail.”

In his statement, McCain pointed to the apparent collapse of yet another GOP-only health care bill as evidence that both parties need to work together, saying that failing to do so will mean every new administration will attempt to repeal the policies of the last.

“The issue is too important, and too many lives are at risk, for us to leave the American people guessing from one election to the next whether and how they will acquire health insurance,” he said. “A bill of this impact requires a bipartisan approach.”

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee who had been negotiating for months with Alexander, quickly jumped on McCain’s statement by announcing she is more than willing to resume those talks.
.................

[DonCoquixote]

38. until the 11th hour is passed, stay vigilant

Because you know that the Koches and Mercers and about to unleash a horde of goons and demons into the air, the bets money can buy.

[Gothmog]

40. Yeah

Link to tweet

[mobeau69]

42. Thank you, Senator McCain.

Your old friend Teddy would be so proud of you.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

43. That wretched smell in the air

means Trump just shit his pants.

[Scurrilous]

44. K&R