Sen. John McCain of Arizona gave the GOP’s push to proceed onto a health care bill Tuesday a potential boost by announcing he will return to work after surgery for a blood cot and a shocking cancer diagnosis.
“Senator McCain looks forward to returning to the United States Senate tomorrow to continue working on important legislation, including health care reform, the National Defense Authorization Act, and new sanctions on Russia, Iran and North Korea,” the Republican’s office said late Monday.
With Democrats uniformly opposed to repealing Obamacare, Republican leaders cannot afford more than two defections from their 52-seat GOP majority on the motion to proceed to debate.
Mr. McCain has not been overly enthusiastic about the GOP health bill or the partisan process through which it’s emerged. After an earlier version was poised to fail, he called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to reopen the process with a bipartisan approach, advice Mr. McConnell ignored.
But Mr. McCain’s best friend in the Senate, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and other colleagues who’ve spoken with Mr. McCain of late, say he’s been itching to get back to the Senate, impatient to return to work. And he’s expected to support Mr. McConnell and President Trump and vote to move forward with the GOP health bill.
• This article was based in part on wire service reports.
SEE ALSO: Senate to begin debate on Republicans’ repeal, replace health care bill
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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