Members of Southern Arizona’s congressional delegation split along party lines in the vote Thursday for the American Health Care Act.
U.S. Rep. Martha McSally, who voted in favor of the measure, said lawmakers could continue to support the Affordable Care Act or support the first step in building a new health-care system.
“This is not a perfect bill, but it is better than a failed system,” McSally said.
McSally, a two-term Republican, spent part of Thursday morning pushing through an amendment removing a loophole that would have allowed Congress to exempt itself from the state waiver provisions of the bill.
“Any law we pass that applies to our constituents must apply equally to members of Congress as well. Anything short of that is hypocrisy,” she said.
The amendment passed 429-0.
U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, who voted “no,” faulted Republicans for supporting a flawed bill for political reasons rather than standing up for their constituents.
“Republicans have either failed to take the time to understand, or refuse to believe, how harmful this bill is. Their constant catering to the wealthy at the expense of hard-working Americans and their families has got to stop,” the Tucson Democrat said.
U.S. Rep. Tom O’Halleran, also a Democrat, echoed similar concerns, in voting against the bill.
“Arizona families have experienced rising health-care costs first-hand, but the AHCA does not provide the relief they need,” he said. “We cannot continue to play politics with the health and well-being of the American people.”
