After three nights of attacks on the GOP's healthcare bill, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel celebrated Republican Sen. John McCain's announcement Friday that he would vote against the bill, known as the Graham-Cassidy legislation.
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Jimmy Kimmel thanks McCain for 'being a hero' and coming out against GOP healthcare bill
After repeatedly attacking the GOP healthcare bill, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel celebrated Sen. John McCain's announcement that he will oppose Graham-Cassidy.
"Thank you @SenJohnMcCain for being a hero again and again and now AGAIN," Kimmel tweeted minutes after McCain made his decision public.
McCain's "no" vote will likely sink his party's final effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare.
In a statement on Friday afternoon, McCain insisted that healthcare "is too important an issue" to be rushed through Congress and that Republicans must work across the aisle.
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"I cannot in good conscience vote for the Graham-Cassidy proposal," he said. "I believe we could do better working together, Republicans and Democrats, and have not yet really tried. Nor could I support it without knowing how much it will cost, how it will affect insurance premiums, and how many people will be helped or hurt by it."
Kimmel has repeatedly spoken out against Republicans' attempts to repeal and replace Obamacare following the birth of his son, Billy, who underwent emergency open-heart surgery.
The comedian has implored his viewers to oppose the bill while blasting its authors, particularly Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy. The senator appeared on Kimmel's show last May and promised to oppose any bill that fails to protect those with preexisting conditions, who are currently protected from being denied coverage or charged more under Obamacare.
Cassidy dubbed it the "Jimmy Kimmel test." But earlier this week, Kimmel accused Cassidy of lying "right to my face."
Kimmel, echoing the consensus of healthcare experts, has argued that Graham-Cassidy would not protect people with preexisting conditions from being charged more for coverage, would allow insurers could opt out of providing essential health benefits, and would cut hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding for healthcare.
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