New healthcare reform bill: Relying on McCain is a fool’s errand

AZ’s Senior Senator (ASS) remains too consumed with jealousy over Trump’s presidential victory to honorably function on behalf of those he’s supposed to represent

Arizona’s Senior Senator (ASS) John McCain, 81, who with a dramatic thumbs down motion reminiscent of the Roman emperor Caligula denying mercy to a wounded gladiator in the arena, took time from his treatment for an  “aggressive malignant brain tumor” to cast the deciding vote, torpedoing Senate Republican efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare.  With his self-serving negative end of July action, in an obviously rehearsed betrayal, ASS afforded himself another opportunity to lob a jab at President Trump — though negatively affecting millions of Americans with his pettiness. In ASS’s bitter world, revenge takes center stage, regardless of the consequences. 

A new plan is on the table. Sens. Lindsey Graham, (R-SC) and Bill Cassidy, M.D., (R-LA) are prime co-sponsors of the proposal that would shift health-care spending currently earmarked for Obamacare, Medicaid expansion and health-care exchanges from the federal government to the states through a system of block grants. Graham-Cassidy would also eliminate the individual mandate, requiring people either carry insurance or pay a fine. Acquaint yourself with the legislation to reform health care and read the comments of supporters — all included here.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, a longtime McCain ally, has announced he’s on-board with the plan, saying in a statement, “Graham-Cassidy is the best path forward to repeal and replace Obamacare.”

Will it make any difference that Graham, McCain’s closest senate comrade, is a co-sponsor? Although McCain functions from his visceral core that is devoid of reason, Ducey is sending him a message to support this replacement effort that carries a Sept. 30 deadline for passage, when rules preventing a Democrat filibuster will expire.  Just as last time, when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell held up action awaiting McCain’s arrival in DC, every vote counts. It remains to be seen if ASS will revert to anti-Trump jealousy mode again and gum up the works. ASS is on record saying, he might “reluctantly” support the bill, although, to no one’s surprise, the Republicrat, self-anointed “maverick” prefers a “bipartisan” approach. 

Following Ducey’s announcement ASS said he was “still very frustrated” with the process and was “not ready to announce a decision to vote for it.”

Expect nothing from ‘Focus-On-Me’ McCain and you’ll never be disappointed.