Posted by Michael Wonder on 23 Jul 2017
With John McCain out, McConnell still plans a Senate health care vote next week
20 July 2017 - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is still expected to hold a vote to proceed on some form of legislation to repeal Obamacare next week, despite the fact that Sen. John McCain likely won’t be back in Washington to cast his vote.
The Arizona Republican senator's absence, in addition to the GOP members who have announced their opposition to the bill, makes it even harder for McConnell to round up the votes to pass a bill.
McConnell’s spokesman David Popp told USA Today on Thursday that the vote is still on despite the news Wednesday night that McCain has been diagnosed with brain cancer. McCain is currently reviewing his treatment options back in Arizona, and it is not clear when he will return to Washington. Senate rules require that a lawmaker be at the U.S. Capitol in order to cast a vote.
