Mr. McCain, along with Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, sided with Democrats to defeat the Republican “skinny” repeal bill in July, but it was unclear whether he would support the new bill. Though Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, R, supports the bill, Mr. McCain says he cannot.
His criticism of the Graham-Cassidy proposal is similar to his criticism of earlier ACA repeal efforts, decrying its unilateral partisan drafting process.
“As I have repeatedly stressed, health care reform legislation ought to be the product of regular order in the Senate. Committees of jurisdiction should mark up legislation with input from all committee members, and send their bill to the floor for debate and amendment,” wrote Mr. McCain in a statement. “That is the only way we might achieve bipartisan consensus 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.”
Without Mr. McCain’s support it is unlikely the Graham-Cassidy bill has the 50 votes needed to pass, as Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has already said he will vote against the measure and Sens. Collins and Murkowski are not expected to support it.
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