On Tuesday, Sen. John McCain returned to the Senate floor to cast his vote in a pivotal moment for the Affordable Care Act. Following surgery to treat a blood clot discovered in his brain, McCain was diagnosed with a deadly form of brain cancer at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix earlier last week.
With surgery scars visible above his left eye, McCain was met by a standing ovation as he took the floor to participate in the Senate’s procedural health care vote. Though McCain cast his vote in favor of advancing the GOP’s efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, he also admonished both parties for their lack of bipartisan efforts in recent months.
“We’re getting nothing done my friends. We’re getting nothing done,” he said during his address to the Senate.
Following the outpouring of support from his colleagues and constituents, McCain called for restoring regular order and casting aside sentiments of partisanship, even though he cast the deciding vote to move forward with legislation that was being written on the fly.
But he also took a shot at President Donald Trump: “We are not the President’s subordinates. We are his equals.”
Prior to the vote, President Donald Trump tweeted that “Any senator who votes against starting the debate is telling American that you are fine w/ the OCareNightmare!”
Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkwoski of Alaska both voted agains the motion to proceed, along with all the Senate Democrats and independents. Vice President Mike Pence broke the 50-50 tie so the bill could move forward.
With the motion to proceed green-lighted, debate now will begin, although even senators appear to not know details about what legislation they are discussing.
McCain’s office announced that he will remain in Washington for the next few days before returning to Arizona to recover and receive further treatment.
What happens now is anyone’s guess.
This article appears in Jul 20-26, 2017.
What they will debate are all ideas. And to do it right they need to hear directly from those that the ACA harmed, so they don’t screw up again.
I think I have solved the cause of the large ice break off in Antarctica — the GOP is preparing for its next healthcare plan transmogrification to take care of all those that become uninsured by placing them on the large ice flow where they can sail off into oblivion using a “natural” and cost effective method.
M. McCain is prime example to have mandatory 8 year term limits for all elected personnel.
Grandma Suzy,
Four years — no more, no less.
If you cannot get it done in four years, you probably cannot get it done.
In addition, no “entitlements” after service. I had to put more than 20 years in the Army to retire with benefits that are far less than these people get for one term now.
Hahahaha Have either of you even read the constitution? You do realize that Senators serve 6 year terms… Either you suck at civics or you suck at math, neither 4 nor 8 year term limits would work. Both of you made me smile today, thank!
HumanBean,,
You do realize that the Constitution is a living document and can be changed, and by the way, I’ll just assume you forgot the “s” on thanks and you do not suck at Writing and English.
Ok let’s make MORE amendments ha ha
The answer to anyone’s guess is McCain showed tremendous courage in joining with Collins and Murkowski to destroy their party’s idiotic crusade against the ACA. Seven years later and Bozo and the Insane Clown Posse have gone down in flames -never had a plan only a perpetual bitch session.
Bad week for Bozo with the sanctions bill passing nearly unanimously, his new communications director going off the rails, conservatives daring him to fire Sessions or Mueller, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs rebuking him for his brain fart directed at transgender soldiers and the Boy Scouts of America apologizing for his politicizing their Jamboree.
I thought we had seen how many clowns could fit in the circus car during the primaries, now make room for hundreds more as the Republicans self-destroy. (And yes, I agree the Democrats are just as bad, just not as dangerous as the party controlling the executive, legislative and judicial branches).
Who and how will this ACA be paid for, or are you content to just add more debt?
Mizzer Lou
That’s for congress to decide. It’s their job, what they are paid to do on behalf of their constituents (us)!
And that is exactly why we are $20T in debt. There must be an end to this insanity.
“And that is exactly why we are $20T in debt. There must be an end to this insanity.” ML
There is.
It’s called an election.