Senators McCain, Murkowski: the deciding figures for the new Obamacare repeal effort

Two of the three GOP senators who orchestrated Obamacare repeal failure in July Sens. John McCain and Lisa Murkowski could be the deciding factor in the latest push by congressional Republicans at repealing the healthcare bill in the next 11 days.

In reference to the latest effort by the GOP lawmakers, Murkowski says she wants to make sure her huge, isolated and sparsely populated state fares well under the new bill. According to The Hill, the new plan which is a little different from the July provision would repeal much of ObamaCare and use the savings for block grants for states, thus affording them more discretion on how to spend the federal funding.

Murkowski told reporters on Tuesday, “I’m still looking for the data that walks me through how Alaska actually does”.

Though, not committing himself at the moment, McCain, whose nay vote defined the core moment of the July failed effort is focused on the Senate’s process, demanding regular order through hearings and amendments, and an effort at bipartisanship.

“I am not supportive of the bill yet. We’ll talk more about it. I’ll talk with my governor and all that. I want regular order”, McCain said on Monday.

Effort to convince McCain and Murkowski would intensify if Sen. Susan Collins who alongside Sen. Rand Paul made a no vote in July and is seen as a likely opponent does vote no.

A possible nay vote from Collins will put Republicans in a tight situation as they would only be able to afford one more defection, thus putting them at the mercies of McCain and Murkowski.

Although, McCain and Murkowski both face pressure from their governors as Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, is backing the new Senate bill, while Alaska Gov. Bill Walker, an independent, opposes it, McCain’s vote in July which was against his governor’s stand suggest his decision to vote rests on his personal conviction.

But, Murkowski on Tuesday indicated she’s going to make up her own mind on the bill.

She said, “In fairness to my governor, in fairness to Alaskans, the numbers actually matter and so if it can be shown that Alaska is not going to be disadvantaged, we gain additional flexibility, then I can go back to Alaskans and I can say, ‘OK, let’s walk through this together”.

“That’s where it could be different. But I don’t have that right now, so those that have asked, ‘where are you, where are you,’ it’s not that I’m being evasive, it’s that I’m being diligent”, Lisa added.

According to an analysis from the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Alaska which has the nation’s highest premiums and benefited from ObamaCare’s Medicaid expansion would be one of the biggest losers under the plan, seeing a $255 million reduction in federal funding for health care by 2026.

However, the two deciding factors for McCain would be his close relationship with Sen. Lindsey Graham who is one of the figures behind the new move, and the way the Senate handles the bill.

In a bid to win McCain over, concerned Republicans have promised a hearing on the bill next week in the Finance Committee.

Graham appeared optimistic about the prospects of winning over McCain on Tuesday.

He said in an interview with the White House pool, “I’ll let John speak for himself, but he likes federalism. Let’s put it this way, I feel very good about this, and we’ll see.

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