Critically ill John McCain to return for pivotal US Senate vote on healthcare

Senator John McCain will return to the U.S. capitol on Tuesday to play what could be a crucial role in salvaging Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare and keep their years-long pledge to unwind the 2010 healthcare overhaul.
McCain, who is battling brain cancer, is set to help decide whether the repeal push will move forward or perhaps be abandoned entirely.

Senators will be asked whether to begin debate on the Senate floor on a healthcare overhaul to supplant the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare. A loss would force Senate Republican leaders, who have struggled to amass support for their version of an overhaul, to find another strategy or move on to other legislative matters. President Donald Trump has been increasingly critical of Republican senators for being unable to pass a bill. He kept up the pressure on Tuesday in a series of early-morning tweets, after chastising them at a White House event on Monday. “After 7 years of talking, we will soon see whether or not Republicans are willing to step up to the plate!” he tweeted, praising McCain for coming back to Washington to cast his vote.

The tally in the divided chamber was expected to be extremely tight, making …read more