McConnell delays vote on health care after McCain surgery

WASHINGTON — Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Saturday he will delay consideration of health care legislation in the Senate after Arizona Sen. John McCain’s announced absence following surgery left Republicans short of votes on their marquee legislation.

McConnell issued his statement not long after McCain’s office disclosed that he had surgery to remove a blood clot from above his left eye, and had been advised by doctors to stay in Arizona this week to recover.

McConnell did not say when he would aim to return to the health care bill.

“While John is recovering, the Senate will continue our work on legislative items and nominations, and will defer consideration of the Better Care Act,” said McConnell.

In Phoenix, Mayo Clinic Hospital doctors said McCain underwent a “minimally invasive” procedure to remove the nearly 2-inch clot and that the surgery went “very well,” a hospital statement said.

McCain, 80, was re-elected in November to a sixth Senate term.