Sen. John McCain chafed when asked if there was enough time to consider an Obamacare overhaul bill through regular order, which he says has been a key reason for his reluctance to pass a last-minute attempt to overhaul the law.
The Arizona Republican remains undecided on a bill to give Obamacare funding to states through a block grant. The Senate has less than two weeks to pass the bill before the deadline expires on Sept. 30 to use a tool that lets Republicans bypass a filibuster.
“We’ve had nine months to get it done and we haven’t,” McCain said when asked if there was enough time to get the bill through via regular order. “Is it my problem now that we only have a week?”
McCain was one of three Republican senators who opposed an Obamacare repeal bill in late July, with Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine.
McCain used the latest defense authorization bill as a role model for regular order in the Senate. He said it includes holding multiple hearings and participation from both sides of the aisle.
“The reason why it got 27-0 votes in committee … is because of our inclusiveness in going through regular order,” he said.
The Obamacare overhaul bill will have at least one hearing, but in the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., is chairman of that committee and he is one of four co-sponsors of the legislation alongside Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Dean Heller of Nevada.
The committee normally doesn’t hear healthcare issues, and it is not clear if the hearing planned for Sept. 26 meets McCain’s criteria.
“He must have some jurisdiction, but frankly I haven’t looked at that aspect of it,” he said when asked about the hearing.
McCain also met with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who said he would hold a vote on the bill if it can muster enough support.
The legislation was released last week and is not expected to receive any support from Democrats.
