McCain opposes health bill, likely dooming its fate

PHOTOGRAPHER: The New York Times

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) boards an elevator on Capitol Hill, in Washington, Sept. 18, 2017.

WASHINGTON — Sen. John McCain of Arizona announced Friday that he would oppose the latest proposal to repeal the Affordable Care Act, leaving Republican leaders with little hope of succeeding in their last-ditch attempt to dismantle the health law.

McCain — who killed the previous repeal effort with his dramatic “no” vote in July — released a statement saying he would not support the proposal by Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, McCain’s closest friend in the Senate.

“I cannot in good conscience vote for the Graham-Cassidy proposal,” McCain said. “I believe we could do better working together, Republicans and Democrats, and have not yet really tried. Nor could I support it without knowing how much it will cost, how it will affect insurance premiums, and how many people will be helped or hurt by it.”