Senate Republicans have expressed a desire for Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey to appoint a replacement for late GOP Sen. John McCain who would support Republican efforts to repeal and replace the ACA, according to The Hill.
While Republican legislators said they don't have time to mount another repeal and replace effort this year, if they keep their Senate and House majorities in 2019 they hope to try to pass legislation dismantling the ACA. Mr. McCain dramatically voted against a repeal of the ACA in the summer of 2017, prompting the repeal to be voted down 51-49.
"If we re-engage in that discussion [of ACA repeal] in some point in the future, it would be nice to have members who enable us to pass it," said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., according to The Hill.
Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said he hopes Mr. McCain's replacement "recognizes that Obamacare is not a proper solution. It hasn't worked. It's created a lot of harm and damage to real people."