Sen. John McCain is returning to Washington Tuesday to provide a pivotal vote on health care reform. The maverick senator was diagnosed with brain cancer just five days ago, but he apparently got approval from doctors to make the trip back to Congress.
The fate of the Affordable Healthcare Act could rest on the shoulders of the Arizona Republican, and Americans from all over the country are pleading with the senator to protect their health insurance.
McCain tweeted late Monday that he “looks forward” to returning to the Senate to continue working on important legislation, including health care reform.
Look forward to returning to Senate tomorrow to continue work on health care reform, defense bill & #RussiaSanctions https://t.co/VQBtovnwF1
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) July 25, 2017
This tweet provided an open invitation for Twitter users to voice their concerns about Obamacare repeal.
I'm getting my masters at a state school here in #AZ… Learning is great, diabetic comas are bad. Please vote no.
— Zylie (@Zylie) July 25, 2017
my boyfriend also has Type 1 diabetes. He's not on Twitter but begs you to keep the ACA
— jokelley (@jokelley) July 25, 2017
My little niece is disabled. Her private insurance has no lifetime caps and expanded Medicaid pays her deductibles. Please vote NO for Abby.
— Sonja Leah 🇺🇲🌊😷 5x💉 (@SonjaMcDaniel94) July 25, 2017
ACA got me through law school with a pre-existing condition, as I've told your staff repeatedly, @SenJohnMcCain – pls vote no on BCRA
— jonny who (@kief_catcher) July 25, 2017
Without health insurance cancer patients like u & me wouldnt have a chance at survival. Please dont vote 2 take that chance away from others
— Zack Hunt (@ZaackHunt) July 25, 2017
Obamacare saved my daughter's life: 120 treatment days for anorexia instead of 7 – what was covered before Mental Health Parity Act.
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) July 25, 2017
It is not clear what health care bill the Senate will be voting on Tuesday, let alone which side McCain will choose in the debate. McCain has been a vocal critic of the ACA, but everyone in the health care industry agrees that the GOP has not come up with a better alternative.
As of Tuesday morning, the GOP’s heath care bill looks to be hanging on by a thread. Sen. Susan Collins has indicated she will vote no on the motion to proceed with the bill, but two other Republican senators must join her in order to block the legislation.
Meanwhile, interest groups representing a variety of backgrounds are trying desperately to kill ACA repeal. Thousands of Catholic nuns signed a letter this week urging senators to vote “no” on the GOP’s health care bill. Every major patients’ rights group took out a full-page ad in “The New York Times” Monday to also call on senators to vote against Obamacare repeal.
