John McCain on CBO Score: 'Not Good News'

The Congressional Budget Office's grim analysis of the Senate's proposed healthcare bill is "obviously… not good news," Sen. John McCain said Monday.

The CBO assessment found about 22 million fewer Americans would have access to health insurance under the Senate reform plan; McCain has so far supported the healthcare bill.

But asked by reporters how he felt about the CBO analysis, McCain conceded, "Well, obviously that's not good news."

McCain on CBO score saying 22 million more will be uninsured by 2026: "Well, obviously that's not good news." pic.twitter.com/jI9weS5swq

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 26, 2017

"We’ll have conversations and go through the whole bill together, and have time to discuss it and decide," McCain said. "It will have to be a factor, an important factor."

McCain's videotaped remarks to reporters appear to leave open the possibility he could go from support to opposition of the Better Care Reconciliation Act, which could sink the GOP leadership's attempts to pass the measure, Vox noted.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell needs at least 50 Republican votes in the chamber to pass a bill.

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