Sen. Rand Paul said Friday he is remaining firm in opposing an Obamacare overhaul bill that is on life support after Sen. John McCain announced his opposition to the legislation Friday.
Paul’s spokesman confirmed after the Arizona Republican’s announcement that Paul’s opposition hasn’t changed.
Paul has vocally opposed the overhaul bill since it was introduced last week. The libertarian Republican, calling it “Obamacare Lite” has said it is less than a full repeal of Obamacare since it would keep 90 percent of the law’s taxes. The bill, led by Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, would give Obamacare funding to states through block grants.
McCain announced Friday his opposition to the bill. He has criticized the one-sided process the Senate GOP has used to repeal Obamacare.
“I believe we could do better working together, Republicans and Democrats, and have not yet really tried,” he said in a statement.
The GOP can only afford to lose two GOP senators out of its 52-48 majority as Vice President Mike Pence can supply the tie-breaking vote.
While only two GOP senators have publicly opposed the measure, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she is leaning against it. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who voted with McCain and Collins to kill an earlier Obamacare repeal bill, is undecided but has been concerned about cuts in funding to her state.
