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Arizona Senator John McCain cast the deciding vote last night to kill the “skinny” Obamacare repeal bill. After the 49 – 51 vote, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell chastised senators, and called on them to come up with solutions to fix the failing healthcare.
In McCain’s home state of Arizona, the insurance marketplace has nearly crumbled. That did not stop McCain, who is suffering from brain cancer, from joining senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins in killing the only vehicle currently available through which to fix Obamacare.
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When McCain let it be known what his vote would be, an audible gasp filled the chamber. For years he condemned Obamacare, but when he had the opportunity he balked. McCain claimed that he was supporting Arizona Governor Doug Ducey in his stiff opposition to the bill.
Senator Chuck Schumer hugged McCain. Later, Schumer praised McCain for his vote.
Vice President Mike Pence was on hand to cast the winning vote, but never got the chance.
Just two days ago, McCain tweeted: “I hope we can rely on humility, cooperation & dependence on each other to better serve the people who elected us.”
A somber McConnell told senators after the vote, “Bailing out insurance companies without reforms is not something I want to be a part of.”
According to Jenny Beth Martin in The Hill, President Trump could “by unilateral action – simply sign a memorandum to the Director of the Office of Personnel Management – to remove Congress’ illegal special exemption from the law, and make members of Congress and their staffs live under ObamaCare without benefit of the generous illegal taxpayer-financed subsidy each now receives.”