McCain Warns Against Repealing Obamacare Without Replacement

UNITED STATES - JANUARY 10: Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., attends a news conference in the Capitol introducing a bipartisan bill to increase sanctions on Russia for it's role in U.S. computer hacking, January 10, 2017.(... UNITED STATES - JANUARY 10: Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., attends a news conference in the Capitol introducing a bipartisan bill to increase sanctions on Russia for it's role in U.S. computer hacking, January 10, 2017.(Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) (CQ Roll Call via AP Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) on Wednesday said that the Senate should not repeal the Affordable Care Act before finalizing a replacement bill.

“I fear we may fall under the trap of repealing and not replacing and that would be bad for America,” he said in Phoenix, according to KTAR.

Senate Republicans left Washington D.C. last week for the July 4 recess without a final bill to repeal and replace Obamacare. As lawmakers headed back to their states, President Donald Trump threw a curveball and endorsed a plan to repeal Obamacare immediately and come up with a replacement later.

Such a plan would likely face opposition from several Republican senators. Senate leadership initially proposed that strategy in January, but it was quickly shot down by several senators.

McCain has been quiet about his stance on the draft Senate bill to replace Obamacare and would not share how he would vote on the bill on Wednesday, according to KTAR. He did say that he would like to offer three amendments to the bill backed by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R).

“I’m getting those amendments written up, so I’ll be ready to present them if and when the bill comes to the floor,” McCain said, per KTAR. “I believe Gov. Ducey has to play an important role because, as governor, he has the primary responsibility.”

 

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. “I fear we may fall under the trap of repealing and not replacing and that would be bad for America, so I will yet again pretend I’m all mavericky and then when it really counts I’ll toe the Republican line and vote in favor of whatever atrocity that comes up for a vote."

  2. Yeah, yeah, Mr Mavericky. We’ve been here before.

    You’ll fold in the end. Lucy always pulls the ball away before Charlie Brown can kick it. McGramps always speaks direful words and then votes for it anyway.

    Yawn.

  3. Your so-called replacement will also be bad for America, you twit.

  4. Very bold…one could almost say…what? A maverick? I think the key for being a truly mavericky individual is in ones silence. “McCain has been quiet about his stance on the draft Senate bill to replace Obamacareand would not share how he would vote on the bill on Wednesday”. Yeah, he’ll vote for whatever…

  5. Avatar for theod theod says:

    I guarantee that he will end up signing any bad bill presented to him, as he has been putting party before country for many years. His Concern Sputterings are meaningless nonsense and mere Mavericky Memories of a reality that never was.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

73 more replies

Participants

Avatar for valgalky23 Avatar for pluckyinky Avatar for asanders91360 Avatar for bluestatedon Avatar for mossman26 Avatar for thx1138 Avatar for psyclone Avatar for sickneffintired Avatar for gr Avatar for geofu54 Avatar for sfaw Avatar for jeffrey Avatar for benthere Avatar for semifrost Avatar for thunderclapnewman Avatar for 62fender Avatar for professorpoopypants Avatar for thinski Avatar for maximus Avatar for pike_bishop Avatar for coprophagoussmile Avatar for justruss Avatar for carolson Avatar for godwit

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: