Comedian Jimmy Kimmel expressed his gratitude to Republican Sen. Susan Collins Monday for her opposition to the GOP’s latest effort to overhaul Obamacare.
“Thank you @SenatorCollins for putting people ahead of party,” Kimmel tweeted. “We are all in your debt.”
Thank you @SenatorCollins for putting people ahead of party. We are all in your debt.
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) September 25, 2017
The “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” host, who has a son with a pre-existing condition that required open heart surgery shortly after birth, has provided vocal commentary on the Senate’s debate over the Graham-Cassidy healthcare plan.
The proposal — which removes individual and employer mandates required by the Affordable Care Act and takes funding currently allocated for Obamacare exchanges and Medicaid expansion, instead giving it to state governments to use at their discretion — was speculated to be voted on before Sept. 30.
But that timeline was thrown into disarray Monday when Collins, R-Maine, became the third Republican to publicly decline to support the bill, with Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and John McCain of Arizona.
Republicans can only afford three senators to defect to ensure the draft legislation’s passage by Congress’ upper chamber.
