Collins delivers likely fatal blow to GOP healthcare bill

WASHINGTON—Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, announced Monday she plans to vote against the latest Republican effort to repeal and replace Obamacare, effectively killing any chance it might pass. Collins is the third GOP senator to announce opposition to the bill, authored by Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Bill Cassidy, R-La. Republicans can only lose two votes from their ranks and still pass the bill. Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., also oppose the effort. Collins said in a statement she’s deeply troubled by the rushed, partisan process Republicans are using: “Sweeping reforms to the healthcare system and to Medicaid can’t be done well in a compressed time frame. The fact that a new version of this bill was released the very week we are supposed to vote compounds the problem.” Collins withheld her judgment until the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its preliminary analysis of the bill. The CBO did not have time to provide details but predicted the Graham-Cassidy bill would mean millions of Americans would no longer have coverage. GOP leaders plan to discuss next steps for healthcare during a meeting Tuesday afternoon. They have until Sept. 30 to make changes using the reconciliation process.