The Latest: No.2 GOP senator sees health care vote in weeks

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the health care bill in the Senate (all times local):

12:10 p.m.

The No. 2 Republican in the Senate says he fully expects a vote on the GOP health bill once Sen. John McCain is able to return to Washington following surgery.

Sen. John Cornyn tells NBC's "Meet the Press" that there should be a vote once there is a "full contingent of senators" available.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced late Saturday he was delaying the vote on the bill to repeal and replace the Obama-era health care law, which had been planned for this coming week. McConnell's announcement came after McCain's office disclosed that he had undergone surgery, and doctors had advised him to stay in Arizona this week.

Before McCain's absence, the legislation was already opposed by two GOP senators in a chamber where they hold a 52-48 majority.

11:50 a.m.

The White House is wishing Sen. John McCain of Arizona a "speedy recovery" from surgery to remove a blood clot from above his left eye.

When asked at a Sunday news briefing about Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's decision to delay the health care, White House director of media affairs Helen Aguirre Ferre (ah-GEE'-ray feh-RAY') replied: "We wish Sen. McCain a speedy recovery."

McConnell made the decision to delay consideration of the bill due to McCain's absence. Aguirre Ferre did not comment on the delay, however, and declined to say whether the president was making calls to rally support for the measure.

She said Trump had "been monitoring what's going on with health care," but could not "speak to any private conversions" Trump "may or may not have had."

2:14 a.m.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is postponing consideration of health care legislation in the Senate. Sen. John McCain's announced absence following surgery leaves Republicans short of votes on their marquee legislation.

McConnell's announcement on Saturday amounted to another setback for GOP efforts, promoted by President Donald Trump, to repeal and replace "Obamacare" after years of promises. McConnell issued his statement not long after McCain's office disclosed that he had undergone surgery to remove a blood clot from above his left eye. McCain's doctors advised the senator to stay in Arizona next week to recover.

McCain's absence meant it would become impossible for the majority leader to round up the votes needed to move forward with the bill next week as planned.