Mr. McCain made a dramatic return to the Senate in late July after he was diagnosed with brain cancer, and was the deciding vote that brought GOP healthcare debate to the floor of the Senate. However, he sided with Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, in voting with Democrats against the final proposed Republican bill. The bill’s 51 to 49 defeat effectively stalled Republican healthcare efforts for the time being.
When reporters asked Mr. Trump Tuesday how he planned to pass infrastructure legislation when he had failed to pass a healthcare bill, he shifted the blame to Mr. McCain.
“Well you, I’ll tell you. We came very close with healthcare. Unfortunately, John McCain decided to vote against it at the last minute,” Mr. Trump said. “You’ll have to ask John McCain why he did that.”
While GOP leadership has said it will shift its focus to tax reform once the Senate’s August recess ends, senators from both sides of the aisle have voiced support for bipartisan healthcare efforts in the future.
More Articles on Leadership:
Week in review: 11 biggest healthcare stories this week
The aftermath of the ‘Google manifesto’: 5 things to know
Pinnacle Dermatology’s new CEO brings experience as CIO, CFO and CSO to new role
At Becker's 4th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable, taking place November 2–5 in Chicago, more than 1,500 hospital and health system executives tackle decisions that determine whether organizations thrive or merely survive: protecting margins under cost pressure, choosing where to grow, renegotiating payer relationships, stabilizing the workforce and proving real ROI on technology. This is where leaders work through them together, face-to-face. Apply for complimentary registration now.