Ducey disappointed health care won’t get vote, reacts to McCain’s opposition
Sep 26, 2017, 8:25 PM | Updated: Mar 1, 2018, 3:48 pm
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
PHOENIX — Republicans’ latest version of repeal and replace will not get a vote in the Senate. KTAR News 92.3 FM caught up with Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, a supporter of the bill, for his reaction.
“I am disappointed, I mean I have to deal with this failure of a health care system every day,” Ducey said.
GOP leaders were faced with no choice after a third Republican announced opposition to the Graham-Cassidy bill, and announced there would be no vote Tuesday.
“It’s our federal government’s job to solve some of these problems,” Ducey said. “It’s going to take either the Senate having a vote of a majority, or figuring out a bipartisan vote … I’ll take either.”
Ducey supported the latest version because it allowed states to choose what to do with federal money via block grants.
“I think local government is better. The government that’s closer to (the) citizen is going to do a better job and be held more accountable. So that’s what I’d like to see but it looks like it’s back to the drawing board with [Tuesday’s] news.”
Ducey added that it would probably take several successful bills passing through Congress to improve the health care experience for citizens at the state level.
Arizona Sen. John McCain is one of three Republican senators announcing they would vote against the GOP’s latest effort to repeal and replace. Ducey responded.
“As a governor, I’m a chief executive, and my concern is for the citizens in the state. Our senior senator seems to have a real concern for procedure, “ Ducey said. “If he wants to focus on that, I’m fine with it, but I want to get the vote done.”