McCain’s Surgery Will Delay Senate Votes on Health Care Bill<br />By ROBERT PEARJULY 15, 2017<br />WASHINGTON — The Senate will delay votes on a bill to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, announced Saturday night,<br />because of a new obstacle to winning enough support for one of the Republican Party’s most cherished goals.<br />Mr. McConnell said that “while John is recovering, the Senate will continue our work on legislative items and nominations.”<br />But congressional aides, lobbyists and state officials said Saturday night<br />that Senate leaders should rethink their strategy after being forced to postpone consideration of the repeal bill, which opinion polls show to be highly unpopular.<br />Mr. McConnell said the Senate would “defer consideration” of the bill, scheduled for this week, because Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, would be absent, recovering from surgery<br />that he had on Friday to remove a blood clot above his left eye.
