Pelosi: Democrats will ‘put a stake in the heart’ of ObamaCare repeal after McCain opposition

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Friday praised Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) announcement that he would not support the latest GOP effort to repeal and replace ObamaCare and pledged Democrats will “put a stake in the heart of this monstrous bill.”

In a letter to Democrats, Pelosi touted McCain’s decision as “good news.”

But she also cast Democrats’ health-care fight against Republicans as ongoing, urging lawmakers and advocacy groups to keep pressure on GOP lawmakers and the discussion in front of the public.

“Together, we will finally put a stake in the heart of this monstrous bill,” Pelosi wrote.

We finally have a chance to put a stake in the heart of the #Trumpcare monstrosity. We can’t let up. The next days are crucial in this fight

— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) September 22, 2017

The letter came after McCain said that he could not support a measure authored by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.), which sought to repeal much of the Affordable Care Act by replacing certain provisions, like Medicaid subsidies, with block grants controlled by states.

{mosads}

While several other Senate Republicans remain undecided, McCain’s announcement dealt a potentially deciding blow to the proposal.

Republicans could only afford two defections on the bill to get the 50 votes necessary for it to pass. But Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has already come out against the measure, and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) has indicated that she’s leaning against supporting it.

McCain’s decision could potentially prompt other Senate Republicans to come out in opposition. No Democrats are expected to vote for the measure.

The Graham-Cassidy bill is the GOP’s latest push to repeal the Affordable Care Act, or ObamaCare, though they now face a procedural deadline of Sept. 30 to pass the bill with only 50 votes, assuming Vice President Pence would cast the tie-breaking vote.

After that, any health-care bill would require a filibuster-proof 60 votes — a majority that would require Democratic support.