Sen. John McCain, who torpedoed the last GOP healthcare bill in a surprise vote in July, says he’ll vote against the Graham-Cassidy healthcare legislation that GOP lawmakers are rushing to a vote by the end of the month.

McCain announced his opposition in a statement on his Twitter feed:

As I have repeatedly stressed, health care reform legislation ought to be the product of regular order in the Senate. Committees of jurisdictions should mark up legislation with input from all committee members, and send their bill to the floor for debate and amendment. That is the only way we might achieve bipartisan concensus on lasting reform, without which a policy that affects one-fifth of our economy and every single American family will be subject to reversal with every change of administration and congressional majority … 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 … I take no pleasure in announcing my opposition. Far from it. 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’s decision makes the passage of Graham-Cassidy much more difficult for GOP leaders, who are struggling to find 50 votes in their caucus in the face of unified Democratic opposition. They can only afford to lose three votes in order to get the bill across the finish line.

This article appears in Sep 21-27, 2017.

Getting hassled by The Man Mild-mannered reporter

8 replies on “McCain: “I Cannot in Good Conscience Vote for Graham-Cassidy””

  1. When Obamacare implodes and many, many, many lose coverage (not just for pre-existing conditions), I want to see who still applauds McCain as a hero. Making health insurance a state-level issue would have better served people as a one-size-fits-all policy fits the population about as well as a garment of the same description. Be very careful what you wish for; you just might get it.

  3. It’s great to have our entire governmental system hinge on the fleeting whims of an old man with brain cancer.

  5. It’s great to have our entire governmental system hinge on the fleeting whims of an old man with a Propecia addiction and a boner for Putin.

  6. Blow John. You’ve been in politics for a century and in that time you’ve only served the great state of Maricopa and yourself. I know for a fact you’re treatment isn’t taking place at a VA hospital.

  8. I agree with McCain, if the two parties would talk to each other, we might get more workable bills.
    The only problem is that Obamacare was not passed through “regular order” either.

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