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| McCain torpedoes Republican Obamacare repeal plan again | McCain torpedoes Republican Obamacare repeal plan again |
| (about 4 hours 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 the Democrats. | Mr McCain said it was wrong to pass such far-reaching legislation without input from the Democrats. |
| 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. |
| President Trump, speaking in Alabama late on Friday, condemned Republicans who did not back the new legislation, saying: "They don't have the guts to vote for it." | |
| Republicans need 50 votes in a 100-seat chamber they control 52-48 to succeed. | Republicans need 50 votes in a 100-seat chamber they control 52-48 to succeed. |
| With Democrats united in opposition, there is little margin for error. | With Democrats united in opposition, there is little margin for error. |
| Mr McCain's objection could doom conservatives' seven-year campaign to erase Democratic former President Barack Obama's signature legislative achievement. | Mr McCain's objection could doom conservatives' seven-year campaign to erase Democratic former President Barack Obama's signature legislative achievement. |
| In a statement on Friday, the Arizona senator said such a bill demands extensive hearings, debate and amendment. | In a statement on Friday, the Arizona senator 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". | 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. | One other Republican senator, Rand Paul, is also against the party's latest bill. |
| Susan Collins indicated on Friday afternoon she may join the opposition. | Susan Collins indicated on Friday afternoon she may join the opposition. |
| The Maine senator said she was worried the legislation did not do enough to protect patients with pre-existing conditions. | The Maine senator said she was worried the legislation did not do enough to protect patients with pre-existing conditions. |
| "I'm leaning against the bill," Ms Collins said at a constituency event. | "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. | At least four other Republican senators are undecided: Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, Rob Portman and Jerry Moran. |
| Back to the drawing board | Back to the drawing board |
| Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America reporter | Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America reporter |
| As several Republican senators explained - ones who were firm "yesses" - the main attraction for the plan was that it was the only plan on the table. | As several Republican senators explained - ones who were firm "yesses" - the main attraction for the plan was that it was the only plan on the table. |
| Now it appears Republicans will have to go back to the drawing board. | Now it appears Republicans will have to go back to the drawing board. |
| Although the end of September is the deadline for passing a bill with a simple majority in the Senate for this federal budget, there's no reason the party couldn't start the wheels turning for another vote next year - or, conceivably, simply change the rules, as Donald Trump has suggested. | Although the end of September is the deadline for passing a bill with a simple majority in the Senate for this federal budget, there's no reason the party couldn't start the wheels turning for another vote next year - or, conceivably, simply change the rules, as Donald Trump has suggested. |
| None of that will alter the simple dynamic that made itself clear over the course of the past months, however. | None of that will alter the simple dynamic that made itself clear over the course of the past months, however. |
| The Republican Party, despite campaigning ferociously for Obamacare repeal for nearly seven years, could never agree on how to turn those promises into reality without sending the healthcare industry into a tailspin. | The Republican Party, despite campaigning ferociously for Obamacare repeal for nearly seven years, could never agree on how to turn those promises into reality without sending the healthcare industry into a tailspin. |
| Read more from Anthony | Read more from Anthony |
| Follow @awzurcher | Follow @awzurcher |
| The Republican leadership had evidently hoped South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the bill's authors, might be able to persuade his close friend Mr McCain to back the measure. | The Republican leadership had evidently hoped South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the bill's authors, might be able to persuade his close friend Mr McCain to back the measure. |
| Undeterred on Friday, Mr Graham vowed: "We press on." | Undeterred on Friday, Mr Graham vowed: "We press on." |
| President Trump has been phoning lawmakers and state governors in a bid to tilt the scales in favour of the bill. | President Trump has been phoning lawmakers and state governors in a bid to tilt the scales in favour of the bill. |
| But several Republican governors this week also criticised the process as rushed, urging colleagues to abandon the proposal in favour of a slower, cross-party approach. | But several Republican governors this week also criticised the process as rushed, urging colleagues to abandon the proposal in favour of a slower, cross-party approach. |
| Sixteen major medical groups meanwhile issued a joint statement against the Republican legislation. | Sixteen major medical groups meanwhile issued a joint statement against the Republican legislation. |
| 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 unclear 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 unclear 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 - just days after he was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour - sunk that bill, too. | A dramatic late-night 'no' vote from Mr McCain - just days after he was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour - 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. | According to analysis released on Friday, if the Graham-Cassidy bill were to pass, 32 million fewer Americans would have health insurance by 2027. |
| And the non-partisan Brookings Institution said its findings "likely understates the reductions in insurance coverage". | And the non-partisan Brookings Institution said its findings "likely understates the reductions in insurance coverage". |
| The new bill, also drafted by Senator Bill Cassidy, would give states money in block grants to run their own healthcare programmes. | The new bill, also drafted by Senator Bill Cassidy, would give states money in block grants to run their own healthcare programmes. |
| But critics say that when left to the states, the money going into the Medicaid programme for people on low incomes would diminish. | But critics say that when left to the states, the money going into the Medicaid programme for people on low incomes would diminish. |
| Republicans have long deplored Obamacare, known formally as the Affordable Care Act, as government overreach into the US healthcare system. | Republicans have long deplored Obamacare, known formally as the Affordable Care Act, as government overreach into the US healthcare system. |