McCain, Flake not ready to commit to Senate Republican health-care bill
Dan Nowicki
Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake are approaching the newly released Senate Republican health-care bill with caution.
McCain and Flake, both Arizona Republicans, were shut out of the bill's drafting, along with many of their Senate GOP colleagues, and only got their first look at the legislation to roll back former President Barack Obama's signature health-care-reform law on Thursday.
After complaining about the secrecy involved in the writing of the bill, McCain and Flake signaled Thursday that they will take some time to study the "discussion draft" and weigh its potential ramifications.
McCain and Flake both support repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, or "Obamacare" — McCain made the issue central to his 2016 re-election campaign — but the Senate's approach came under immediate attack from both the right and left.
The Senate bill would repeal the ACA's employer and individual mandates to buy insurance and would repeal taxes related to the law that Republicans say stifle innovation and drive up the cost of premiums. It also would lower Medicaid spending and, by 2024, would eliminate the federal funding that allowed states, including Arizona, to expand Medicaid under the ACA. Health-care subsidies for lower-income households also would be reworked.
Democrats and liberals pounced on the package as draconian and mean-spirited, while some conservatives slammed it for keeping too much of Obamacare's structure in place.
McCain on Thursday called for a "complete evaluation" of the bill before the Senate votes. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., had been aiming for a vote by the end of next week, although that goal seems ambitious, given questions and doubts about the legislation among even Republicans.
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"The American people deserve a full and complete vetting before we cast our votes," McCain said Thursday during his weekly Facebook Live town-hall program, in which he answers questions from members of the public.
The effect on Arizona
And because Arizona expanded Medicaid under the ACA, McCain said he wants Gov. Doug Ducey's input on the impact it could have on the state.
"I have to tell you that I try to respect and respond to the elected leaders in my home state," McCain said. "In this particular case, because Arizona is a Medicaid-expansion state, it is even more important. So before I come down with a position on this particular issue, I want to hear from the governor, the legislators and the health-care providers throughout the state of Arizona before I come down with a final decision."
Ducey sent McCain a letter Wednesday expressing support for repealing Obamacare, which he called "a policy disaster," but outlining some possible concerns with the emerging legislation.
"Now that we have the bill, we are reviewing and will be providing follow up soon," Daniel Scarpinato, Ducey's spokesman, said in an email to The Arizona Republic.
McCain reiterated during his Facebook Live talk his belief that the existing ACA system must be jettisoned.
"Arizona is not in good shape. Obamacare is imploding," McCain said. "We cannot stand the status quo of Obamacare. And I campaigned hard saying, when I was up for re-election this last November ... that I would do everything in my power to repeal and replace Obamacare. I intend to do that. I intend to do everything I can, and I am fully aware how important this issue is to the citizens of the state of Arizona."
Pressure on Flake
Flake, who is up for re-election next year, acutely feels the political pressures on both sides of the issue.
Kelli Ward, the former state senator from Lake Havasu City who is challenging Flake in the 2018 Republican primary, tweeted that the Senate bill is "more moderate" that the one passed by the GOP-controlled House of Representatives in May and a "squishy" rehash of Obamacare.
Meanwhile, the "Indivisible Surprise!" activist group is protesting the Senate health-care bill by organizing what it describes as a peaceful "sit-in" at Flake's Phoenix office for 10 a.m. Friday.
Flake on Thursday said in a Twitter message that now with a copy of the draft in hand, he intended "to take time to thoroughly read and review it."
His Senate office said he wouldn't likely comment further on the bill until next week.
Nowicki is The Republic's national political reporter. Follow him on Twitter, @dannowicki.
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