Sen. John McCain to Miss Week in Senate After Having Surgery
But without Mr. McCain, Senate Republicans would not have the votes they need to take up or pass their bill to repeal and replace major provisions of the health care act that was the signature domestic achievement of President Barack Obama. McCain’s absence from the Senate would have imperiled the bill because McConnell needs support from 50 of the 52 GOP senators to pass it, and two GOP senators, Maine’s Susan Collins and Kentucky’s Rand Paul, have already said they won’t vote for the legislation.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., right, with Sen.
Surgeons in Phoenix removed a blood clot from above Mr McCain’s left eye on on Friday.
Senator John McCain addresses a press conference at Resolute Support headquarters in Kabul on July 4, 2017.
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell saiys he will delay consideration of health care legislation in the Senate, after Sen. John McCain recovers from surgery for a blood clot above his left eye, Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn said Sunday. Doctors from the Mayo Clinic said the senator’s surgery was successful and he is resting comfortably at his home in Arizona.
Following news that McConnell was deferring a vote scheduled on the bill so Sen.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated the bill would cut Medicaid by almost $800 billion by 2026, and would cut Medicaid 35 percent come 2036.
The Cruz amendment “is simply unworkable in any form and would undermine protections for those with pre-existing medical conditions, increase premiums and lead to widespread terminations of coverage for people now enrolled in the individual market”, wrote the CEOs of America’s Health Insurance Plans and the BlueCross BlueShield Association.
Without McCain, the current version of Trumpcare – officially titled the Better Care Reconciliation Act – can not pass the Senate.
Two Republicans, conservative Sen. Along with all 48 senators in the Democratic Caucus – and without McCain – their opposition would be enough to block the bill from advancing. He did not say when he would return to the health care bill. McCain and a group of bipartisan senators spoke out in favor of arming Ukrainians in their conflict with Russian Federation. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, that allows insurers to sell cheaper but less comprehensive plans in the individual health care market if they also offer a plan compliant with Obamacare standards.
The Senate leader had planned action on the controversial bill next week. It reported in June that an earlier version of the Senate health care bill would leave 22 million fewer Americans with health insurance by 2026 than would be covered under Obamacare. This addition could bring down costs for some, but has caused contention with some moderate senators because it could hurt those with pre-existing conditions.