After dramatic vote, McCain returns to Arizona for treatment

After casting the deciding vote that derailed Republicans’ seven-year quest to repeal the Affordable Care Act, U.S. Sen. John McCain is headed to Arizona to resume treatment following his diagnosis of an aggressive form of brain cancer.

McCain will be treated at Mayo Clinic, and on Monday will begin a post-surgical regimen of radiation and chemotherapy, his office said.

During that time, his office said, McCain will maintain a work schedule, and he plans to return to Washington after the August recess.

Following a surgery to remove a blood clot from above his left eye and the diagnosis of brain cancer, McCain left for Washington, D.C. to initially vote for advancing debate on a proposal to repeal Obamacare.

But he also admonished his colleagues and delivered a stinging rebuke of the hyper-partisanship that has engulfed Congress. He also made clear that he would not support any of the proposals to repeal Obamacare without substantial changes.

Last night (early morning in D.C.), McCain joined U.S. Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska in voting against “Skinny Repeal,” which sought to undo the mandate to Americans to buy insurance and to business to provide medical coverage to their workers. With Democrats unified in their opposition, the three Republicans’ vote sank the legislation.

McCain said Obamacare should be repealed and replaced with a plan that increases competition, lowers costs and improves care, but the repeal legislation would not accomplish those goals.

Its failure, he said in a news release, provides Congress a “fresh start” and the opportunity to craft bipartisan health care legislation.

“It is now time to return to regular order with input from all of our members – Republicans and Democrats – and bring a bill to the floor of the Senate for amendment and debate,” he said.