WASHINGTON \u2014 Sen. John McCain made dramatic return to the Senate Tuesday to cast a vote to start debate on the GOP\u2019s Obamacare overhaul and said he hoped to shepherd the 2018 defense policy bill through the Senate soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the way ahead for the bill, the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act, is clouded by questions. It\u2019s not only hitched behind the complicated and ambitious health care reform effort, but linked to McCain and his as-yet undisclosed plans to pursue treatment for brain cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Senate version of the bill authorizes $700 billion in spending for the Pentagon and is likely to be influential, but not the final word, in the ongoing defense spending debates in Washington. The final NDAA will authorize a broad range of defense policies and programs across the military.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Senate Armed Services Committee chairman returned to town from Arizona on Tuesday, just days after his office announced he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called a vote to begin debate on Obamacare repeal, and he needed 51 votes, including McCain\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
McCain, R-Ariz., entered the Senate chamber at 3 p.m. to a standing ovation and cast his vote to proceed to debate, handing McConnell a slim victory. The vote split the Senate 50-50, with Vice President Mike Pence breaking the tie in favor of starting debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From there, McCain delivered a rousing speech on bipartisanship, saying he wanted to get on with the NDAA himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be here for a few days, I hope managing the floor debate on the defense authorization bill, which I\u2019m proud to say is again a product of bipartisan cooperation and trust among the members of the Senate Armed Services Committee,\u201d McCain said. \u201cAfter that, I\u2019m going home for awhile to treat my illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have every intention of returning here and giving many of you cause to regret all the nice things you said about me,\u201d McCain quipped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Had the healthcare vote failed, there was speculation McConnell would have quickly steered the Senate to the NDAA. Now, with healthcare taking the Senate\u2019s focus this week, it\u2019s possible an NDAA vote will be delayed to as late as September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Much hinges on arcane Senate rules. The passage of Tuesday\u2019s motion to proceed on health care starts a clock for 20 hours of debate, after which votes can begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are broad disagreements on fundamental parts of the repeal and replace effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Senate will likely take time to debate any germane amendments, and Democrats may use dilatory tactics to continue their staunch resistance to the healthcare overhaul. That suggests a final series of votes on health care on Thursday night<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In that scenario, GOP leaders and McCain could opt to kick off the NDAA as soon as Friday and extend its consideration into the weekend. One motivation here is if McCain needs to return to Arizona soon for treatment soon, and another is if McConnell wants to begin the August recess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As of Tuesday, the Senate is due to adjourn for recess on Aug. 11, which means there is still time on the calendar in August for NDAA. Yet it was unclear Tuesday whether McCain\u2019s health issues will permit him to remain in town to take up the NDAA beyond this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Senate leaders have signaled they will defer to McCain\u2019s preference to manage the bill \u2014 as opposed to handing that duty off. They hoped last week to take up the bill before the recess, but they had not ruled out pushing to September, when the chamber is due to reconvene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
McCain reportedly said as he left the Capitol on Tuesday that he would be in Washington until, \u201cThe end of the week for sure. We\u2019ll have to figure out the rest after that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n