Boost for new Senate plan to kill ObamaCare

A last-ditch effort to repeal ObamaCare got a major boost Monday when Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey backed the new Senate plan.

The endorsement by John McCain’s home-state leader puts new pressure on the senator — who cast the decisive “no” vote on the previous failed Senate health-care bill — to support legislation authored by his buddy Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.)

“Graham-Cassidy is the best path forward to repeal and replace ObamaCare,” Ducey said Monday. “Congress has 12 days to say ‘yes’ to Graham-Cassidy. It’s time for them to get the job done.”

There’s a sense of urgency because the Senate faces a Sept. 30 procedural deadline to put forth a bill that would require only 50 votes to pass, short of the normal 60 votes needed. The GOP has 52 votes in the Senate.

The legislation would replace ObamaCare subsidies with block grants to states, repeal the individual mandate to carry insurance and roll back Medicaid expansion.

McCain shocked his party in July when he joined with fellow Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) to vote “no” on the socalled skinny repeal health-care plan and sink President Trump’s best chance to make good on a campaign pledge.

“I am not supportive of the bill yet,” McCain said on Monday.

The Senate could vote on the proposal as soon as next week.