Leo Vartorella | July 25, 2017
Though he was diagnosed with brain cancer last week, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., will return to Capitol Hill today to vote on a healthcare bill, according to CNN.
Listed below are four things you need to know about this afternoon’s vote on a motion to proceed with debate over healthcare legislation and Mr. McCain’s return.
1. Though the Senate worked through various drafts of its own healthcare bills, none could bridge the gap between moderates and conservatives. Today, the Senate will be voting on the bill that passed through the House (American Health Care Act) with the hope that they can tweak it during the amendment process. The Senate is not scheduled to convene until noon.
2. Though he was critical of his party’s secretive drafting process, Mr. McCain is a definite “yes” vote for Republicans. His vote is essential for GOP leaders who don’t know whether they have support to pass a bill. Upon learning that Mr. McCain would return for the vote, President Donald Trump called him an “American hero” in a tweet.
3. So far only Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, has said she will definitely vote no on the motion to proceed. This means Mr. McConnell can only lose one more vote and still pass the motion to proceed.
4. Even if the bill up for a vote garners enough support to proceed with debate, it is difficult to say if it could be voted through to become law. Some speculate Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is eager to vote simply to demonstrate that his party made a good faith effort on healthcare, and if the bill dies then the GOP can move onto other legislative priorities.
Mr. Trump held a press conference Monday before families that he called “victims” of the ACA and encouraged Senate Republicans to follow through on their promises of the last seven years and repeal the legislation.
Source: Beckers
http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-management-administration/mccain-returns-for-senate-healthcare-vote-4-things-to-know-today.html