Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) officially endorsed the Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson bill Monday that would repeal much of the Affordable Care Act and convert Medicaid and Obamacare subsidy funding into block grants controlled by the states.
Calling the bill the “best path forward,” Ducey instructed Congress to “get the job done” in the next 12 days, before the clock runs out on Republicans’ ability to pass the bill with only 50 votes instead of the usual 60.
My statement on #GrahamCassidy #RepealAndReplace pic.twitter.com/oJHqOiR688
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) September 18, 2017
Ducey’s support will likely ensure the backing of Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), whose no vote defeated the GOP’s previous attempt to repeal the ACA, and who has been publicly conflicted about the new repeal bill. In recent interviews, McCain has both criticized Republicans for rushing a partisan bill through Congress and said he would likely support it with his governor’s permission.
Earlier on Monday, Arizona’s junior Republican senator, Jeff Flake, who faces a tough reelection fight next year, jumped on board the bandwagon.
#GrahamCassidy plan to #RepealAndReplace #Obamacare has my support. It ought to be brought to the senate floor
— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) September 18, 2017
According to an analysis by the progressive Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Arizona would lose as much as $1.6 billion in federal health care funding if the bill is signed into law. States like Arizona that expanded Medicaid would be hit harder and sooner, as the plan would completely eliminate Obamacare’s 90 percent federal match for the Medicaid expansion starting in 2020.
McCain and Flake’s support brings Republicans closer to the 50-vote threshold they need to ram the bill through (with Republican Vice President Mike Pence breaking the tie), but several GOP senators are either undecided or openly hostile to the proposal.
Is this the “regular order” McCain was looking for?
Rand Paul will cave too.
Phhhhhhhhhhhhfffffffffftttttttttttt!
At this point, if it wasn’t for the fact many people, including my own friends and family, will be harmed by this, I’m ready to say let it happen. Americans are just going to have to learn the hard way, it seems we can’t do it any other way.
Republicans and Trump need to own this lock, stock and barrel. It can always be undone by a Dem congress and President later.
So does this go the DACA route? Trump signs ACA repeal. Millions lose coverage. The horror and stupidity (and more importantly electoral prospects damage) slaps him in the face. He gives Congress 6 months to fix the eff-up and give insurance back to everyone.