Sen. John McCain (R.-Ariz.), who cast the third and decisive no vote the last time Obamacare repeal and replace was considered in the Senate, seemed to flip-flop on Sept. 6 when he said he would consider supporting a new measure called Graham-Cassidy, which has yet to make it into print.
The effort, named after its authors, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R.-S.C.) and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R.-La.), would essentially do away with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid expansion in favor of doling out money to the states to run their own programs.
When the Twitterverse went wild after McCain’s statement, the senator clarified that, though he might vote for the measure, it should still go through the full legislative process, with hearings held and amendments offered.
“If it’s not through regular order, then it’s a mistake,” McCain said. “But it doesn’t mean I wouldn’t vote for it.”
Graham and McCain are considered close friends, who often agree on many issues.
After just having returned from a month’s recess, the Senate now has only 15 session days left in September to work on this.