McCain Bill Will Aim To Split Medicare From Reconciliation
On the verge of a procedural fight over health care, Arizona Sen. John McCain, the Republican's presidential nominee in 2008, said Sunday that he plans to introduce legislation that would prevent Congress from changing Medicare through a process that only requires a simple majority in the Senate.
“Social Security cannot be considered in reconciliation,' McCain said on NBC's "Meet the Press," referring to a rule established in the 1970s by veteran Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.). "We should do the same thing with Medicare. (Sen.) Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and I will be introducing legislation: Entitlements should not be part of a reconciliation process -- i.e., 51 votes. It’s too important. … Let’s start over. … It’s not too late.”
Democrats are trying to cut hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicare to pay for their health care bill, something that wouldn't be possible under McCain's proposal.
McCain also took exception with some of the deals cut with industries and individual senators to build support for the various bills. He cited protections for the pharmaceutical industry that would block the reimportation of prescription drugs and preserve a favorable reimbursement structure for drug makers under Medicare.
"These are unsavory deals," McCain said. "People object to the process as much as they object to the product."
The Arizona senator also rejected the suggestion that Democrats genuinely wanted to work with GOP lawmakers.
"There is no doubt in my mind that this is a center-right country, and this administration is governing from the left.," McCain said. "We need to start over,"
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Sources: Politico, Google Maps
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