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Sen. McCain says he won't vote yes on GOP healthcare bill

Senator John McCain talks to reporters as he arrives at the US Capitol Visitors Center, September 6, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by AFP)

US Senator John McCain says he will vote no on a Republican bill which aims to dismantle former President Barack Obama's signature health care law known as Obamacare.

The Republican senator announced his opposition on Friday, dealing a major blow to the latest attempt by his own party to fulfill a seven-year promise.

The plan is described as the Graham-Cassidy bill after the two Republican senators — Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana — who sponsored it.

"I cannot in good conscience vote for the Graham-Cassidy proposal," McCain said in a statement.

"I believe we could do better working together, Republicans and Democrats, and have not yet really tried," he added.

McCain joined Republican Senator Rand Paul, who had been pressured by President Donald Trump to vote for the bill, but then said, “I won't be bribed or bullied.”

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Rand Paul speaks to the media about the Senate Republican health care bill proposal, on June 22, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by AFP)

The two senators' opposition comes two days after New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said that he was also against the GOP bill.

“I oppose Graham-Cassidy because it is too injurious to the people of New Jersey,” Christie, an enthusiastic supporter of Trump, said on Wednesday.

The proposal would end Medicaid grants to states and it would have a disproportionate financial impact on states that chose to expand Medicaid under Obamacare.

On July 25, the US Senate voted 51-50 to proceed with a debate on plans to end Obamacare, with Vice President Mike Pence casting the tie-breaking vote.

All 48 Democratic and left-leaning senators opposed the measure, along with Republicans Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski.

Trump had earlier warned his party's senators that they would face strong repercussions if they failed to move forward on the legislation.

According to a Congressional analysis, at least 22 million Americans would lose health insurance coverage in the next decade under the new bill.

The report by the Congressional Budget Office, issued in July, also suggested the bill would result in a $420 billion deficit reduction by 2026 because it retains two of Obamacare taxes.


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