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| McCain torpedoes Republican Obamacare repeal plan again | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Senator John McCain has said he cannot support his fellow Republicans' latest effort to repeal Obamacare, dealing it a potentially fatal blow. | Senator John McCain has said he cannot support his fellow Republicans' latest effort to repeal Obamacare, dealing it a potentially fatal blow. |
| The Arizona senator, who is battling brain cancer, said he "cannot in good conscience" vote for the new plan, which President Donald Trump backs. | The Arizona senator, who is battling brain cancer, said he "cannot in good conscience" vote for the new plan, which President Donald Trump backs. |
| Mr McCain said it was wrong to pass such far-reaching legislation without input from both main parties. | Mr McCain said it was wrong to pass such far-reaching legislation without input from both main parties. |
| It is the second time he has thwarted his party leadership on the issue. | It is the second time he has thwarted his party leadership on the issue. |
| Republicans need 50 votes in a 100-seat chamber they control 52-48 to succeed. Democrats are united in opposition. | |
| But Mr McCain's objection may doom conservatives' seven-year campaign to erase Democratic former President Barack Obama's signature legislative achievement. | But Mr McCain's objection may doom conservatives' seven-year campaign to erase Democratic former President Barack Obama's signature legislative achievement. |
| In a statement on Friday, Mr McCain said such a bill demands extensive hearings, debate and amendment. | |
| "That is the only way we might achieve bipartisan consensus on lasting reform," he wrote, "without which a policy that affects one-fifth of our economy and every single American family will be subject to reversal with every change of administration and congressional majority." | "That is the only way we might achieve bipartisan consensus on lasting reform," he wrote, "without which a policy that affects one-fifth of our economy and every single American family will be subject to reversal with every change of administration and congressional majority." |
| Mr McCain said he could not support a rushed bill "without knowing how much it will cost, how it will effect [sic] insurance premiums, and how many people will be helped or hurt by it". | |
| One other Republican senator - Rand Paul - is also against the party's latest bill. | |
| Susan Collins of Maine indicated on Friday afternoon she may join the opposition to her party's health legislation. | |
| She said she was worried it did not do enough to safeguard patients with pre-existing conditions. | |
| "I'm leaning against the bill," Ms Collins said at a constituency event. | |
| At least four other Republican senators are undecided: Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, Rob Portman and Jerry Moran. | |
| US Vice-President Mike Pence said on Thursday the so-called Graham-Cassidy bill was their "last best chance" to repeal Obamacare. | US Vice-President Mike Pence said on Thursday the so-called Graham-Cassidy bill was their "last best chance" to repeal Obamacare. |
| Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was planning to bring the legislation to a vote next week, but it is not clear now if that will go ahead. | Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was planning to bring the legislation to a vote next week, but it is not clear now if that will go ahead. |
| Republicans are still reeling from the collapse in July of their efforts to secure Senate passage of previous legislation to repeal Obamacare. | Republicans are still reeling from the collapse in July of their efforts to secure Senate passage of previous legislation to repeal Obamacare. |
| A dramatic late-night 'no' vote from Mr McCain sunk that bill, too. | |
| According to analysis released on Friday, if the Graham-Cassidy bill were to pass, 32 million fewer Americans would have health insurance by 2027. | |
| The non-partisan Brookings Institution said their findings "likely understates the reductions in insurance coverage". | |
| The new bill, drafted by senators Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy, would give states money in block grants to run their own healthcare programmes. | |
| But critics says that when left to the states, the money going into the Medicaid programme for people on low incomes would diminish. |