McCain: ‘I Cannot In Good Conscience Vote For The Graham-Cassidy Proposal’
With Sen. John McCain's opposition to the last-ditch repeal-and-replace efforts, Republicans are left with no room for error.
The Washington Post:
McCain Says He Will Vote No On GOP Health-Care Bill, Dealing Major Blow To Repeal Effort
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) announced Friday that he does not support the latest Republican effort to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, dealing a major and potentially decisive blow to the last-ditch attempt to fulfill a seven-year GOP promise. McCain’s comments came on the same day that Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who like McCain, voted against a GOP repeal bill in July, said she was likely to oppose the proposal, leaving the legislation on the brink of failure. (Sullivan, Eilperin and Snell, 9/22)
The New York Times:
McCain Announces Opposition To Republican Health Bill, Likely Dooming It
Mr. McCain, who killed the previous repeal effort with his dramatic “no” vote in July, released a statement saying that he could not “in good conscience” 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. (Kaplan and Pear, 9/22)
Politico:
McCain To Oppose Graham-Cassidy, Likely Sinking Obamacare Repeal
The legislation, drafted by GOP Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham — McCain’s closest friend in the Senate — is the Senate GOP’s last best chance at passing a bill dismantling the Affordable Care Act before a Sept. 30 deadline. But conservative Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky has already announced his opposition to the Graham-Cassidy bill — shredding the plan to reporters, in op-eds and through Twitter. And moderate Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who is already viewed as a hard "no" on the measure, said at an event in her home state Friday that she is "leaning against" Graham-Cassidy, according to the Portland Press-Herald. (Kim, Everett and Haberkorn, 9/22)
CNN:
John McCain Won't Back Graham-Cassidy, Likely Ending Health Care Push
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. (Fox, 9/22)
The Boston Globe:
Senator McCain Announces Opposition To Health Care Bill
Restating his call for regular order, McCain said that he has “repeatedly stressed, health care reform legislation ought to be the product of regular order in the Senate.” “I would consider supporting legislation similar to that offered by my friends Senators Graham and Cassidy were it the product of extensive hearings, debate and amendment,” McCain said in the statement. “But that has not been the case. Instead, the specter of September 30th budget reconciliation deadline has hung over this entire process.” (Ortiz, 9/22)