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John McCain dashes Republican hopes of repealing Obamacare by saying he can not support new bill

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz - FR170079 AP
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz - FR170079 AP

The latest Republican attempt to repeal Obamacare is on the brink of collapse once again after John McCain, long a Republican thorn in the side of Donald Trump, said he could not support a bill due to reach the Senate next week.

Mr Trump and his Senate leadership had been pushing hard to deliver on a seven-year-old Republican promise to overturn Barack Obama’s signature legislation.

Mr McCain killed off the previous repeal attempt with a dramatic “no” vote in July weeks after he had been diagnosed with a brain tumour. This time around party leaders hoped he would approve a version co-sponsored by Lindsey Graham, his closest political ally in the Senate.

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., joined at right Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., holds up a copy of the original Affordable Care Act bill - Credit: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., joined at right Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., holds up a copy of the original Affordable Care Act bill Credit: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

Those hopes were dashed on Friday.

“I cannot in good conscience vote for the Graham-Cassidy proposal,” he said, referring to its two co-sponsors. “I believe we could do better working together, Republicans and Democrats, and have not yet really tried.

“Nor could I support it without knowing how much it will cost, how it will affect insurance premiums, and how many people will be helped or hurt by it.”

Holding a sign saying "We Love ObamaCare" supporters of health care reform rally in front of the Supreme Court in Washington - Credit: AP Photo/Charles Dharapak
Holding a sign saying "We Love ObamaCare" supporters of health care reform rally in front of the Supreme Court in Washington Credit: AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

The bill would repeal key planks of Mr Obama’s reforms, replacing them with block grants to states to design their own programmes.

Medical groups and insurance companies said they were opposed to the plan

Mr McCain’s announcement almost certainly leaves Republicans one vote short of the simple majority they need when the bill reaches the floor of the Senate next week.

After that date special rules preventing a Democrat filibuster expire making it even harder to pass legislation.

Democrats are united in their opposition and two Republican senators have suggested they cannot support the bill, wiping out Mr Trump’s two-seat majority.

One of the highest profile critics of the plan was Jimmy Kimmel, a late-night talkshow host. He became something of a folk hero this year after describing how his son Billy would have died from a congenital heart defect if it were not for the star’s expensive health care plan, which was way beyond most Americans’ means.

He tweeted: