Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey: ‘We’re back to square one’ with health care
Aug 7, 2017, 7:07 PM | Updated: Aug 8, 2017, 11:13 am
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
PHOENIX — After Sen. John McCain’s “no” vote on a “skinny repeal” of Obamacare, his state’s governor, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, said health care is back to square one.
Senate Republicans were unable to pass legislation less than two weeks ago after McCain cast a critical “no” vote. Now, the GOP — whose president campaigned significantly on the promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act that went into law during the Obama administration — is tasked with making yet another attempt at passing a new health care law.
In an interview with KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Mac and Gaydos on Monday, Gov. Ducey said Congress is, essentially, back to where it started.
“But what [McCain] talked about what’s important to him, is that the Senate gets back to regular order,” Ducey said, when asked of the senator’s speech on the Senate floor. “That’s of very little concern to me. That doesn’t concern me at all. I care about the people of Arizona and that we have a replacement bill. That’s coming, they’re working on it back in D.C., but we’re back at square one.”
Ducey was also asked whether he had told McCain which way to vote.
“You can ask John McCain who tells him how to vote,” Ducey said. “I’ll tell you what I’m advocating for — I want to see Obamacare repealed and I want to see a replacement.”
But Ducey was pressed on whether Sen. McCain was voting on behalf of the governor.
“That’s not how I took it,” Ducey said. “I think Sen. McCain wanted to know how this bill affects the state of Arizona and I think that’s what’s most important to him, but I think there are other things that are important to him like what’s happening in the United States Senate and what’s happening in Washington, D.C., which is a lot different than what’s happening here in the state of Arizona.”
The governor emphasized the importance of including local leaders on the health care debate, saying that’s happening now “and local leaders are being invited to the table.”
“We can really solve problems at the state level,” Ducey said. “Often times, we have our fair share of fights here, but we do get things done.”
