House Republicans narrowly pass controversial bill to revise Affordable Care Act, fulfilling a major

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Washington Post

House Republicans narrowly passed a controversial bill to revise Affordable Care Act, fulfilling a major Trump campaign promise but sending the measure on to an uncertain fate in the closely divided Senate.

Passage in the House by a vote of 217 to 213 capped weeks of fits and starts for the GOP and represented an enormous victory for President Trump, who repeatedly pledged on the campaign trail last year to repeal and replace Obamacare but has struggled to secure legislative wins early in his president. The vote was also a big win for House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), who has been working on the legislation since January but has failed to unite his ideologically divided caucus.

Today, this House has the opportunity to do more than just fulfill a promise, Ryan said to the House chamber moments before the vote. We have the opportunity to raise our gaze and set a bold course for our country.

He continued: This bill delivers on the promises that we have made to the American people. You know, a lot of us have been waiting seven years to cast this vote. Many of us are here because we pledged to cast this very vote to repeal and replace Obamacare, to rescue people from this collapsing law. Are we going to meet this test? Are we going to be men and women of our word?

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/republicans-plan-health-care-vote-on-thursday-capping-weeks-of-fits-and-starts/2017/05/03/e7dd7c28-306d-11e7-9dec-764dc781686f_story.html

---

Just as a note to folks - in the past at least one iteration of their "repeal" while President Obama was in office actually made it to him and he vetoed it so it is still a tough road ahead.

[get the red out]

1. I hate Republicans

[turbinetree]

47. I second your motion

[Stuart G]

50. 20 voted .."NO"...with us. very close..

[spiderpig]

2. What was with the juvenile chanting "Na na na na Goodbye" on the House floor?

I'm sure those losing their coverage are vastly amused.

[PoliticAverse]

38. Apparently Democrats were indicating to Republicans that they would lose their majority...

over this vote.

[spiderpig]

40. Thanks for the explanation. I thought it was a taunt directed at Obamacare.

[DeminPennswoods]

39. It's what the GOP sang to Dems in 1993

After Dems passed the tax bill that began the big economic boom of that decade. It means Dems believe the Rs who voted for the bill will end up losing their seats.

[spiderpig]

42. Well, we can only hope.

Tweety is going off right now about the little R toadies motoring off to the White House to get praise for their performance.

Ugh.

[DeminPennswoods]

46. If the PA votes are an indication

All the R reps in SE/NE Pa (Costello, Dent, Fitzpatrick and Meehan), except Barletta and Marino, voted NO.

The Rs who voted YES are in what would be considered "safe" gerrymandered seats (Kelly, Rothfus, Shuster and Thompson). Tim Murphy, though, will be in trouble. He's in a suburban Pgh district and I don't think his vote will help his re-election campaign. Perry and Smucker are in the Harrisburg/South Central Pa area. I'll be interested to see if Dems try to recruit Mike Sturla to run against one of them.

Dems have run candidates in the other districts (3,5,9 and 12), but they've never gotten much money or support. These districts contain exactly the kind of voters who will be most affected by Trumpcare, older, sicker, rural.

[VMA131Marine]

3. 217 votes is NOT a majority of the house ..

There are 5 votes missing

[PoliticAverse]

37. There are currently 4 vacancies in the House....

See: http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/vacancies.aspx

1 member was recorded as Not Voting ( See: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll256.xml ).

217 + 213 + 1 + 4 = 435

Current majority = 435 - 4 = 431 /2 = 215.5 = 216.

[DeminPennswoods]

44. Ryan had to vote for it, too

Normally the Speaker doesn't vote, but Ryan had to walk the plank with his members, too.

[onenote]

57. I think you're mistaken. It is ordinary procedure for the Speaker to vote on legislation.

[DeminPennswoods]

62. No, only in extreme/unusual circumstances

does the Speaker vote.

[onenote]

69. Again, that simply isn't true.

If you look at Pelosi's voting record for her first year as Speaker, you'll see that she voted nearly as often as she sat out. And that pattern appears to have continued into her second year. The number of times that she sat out may be larger than the number of times she voted, but not by a very large margin.

https://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/26732/nancy-pelosi/?p=15#.WQu28U0kupo

[still_one]

4. This is the campaign issue for 2018. Hopefully it is DOA in the Senate

[Chemisse]

9. But will be repeatedly resurrected during the 2018 campaign.

Dems must never let the public forget how badly Republicans tried to screw them today.

[still_one]

11. absolutely

[HoneyBadger]

60. The Republicans will be the first ones to bring it up in 2018 and 2020

They consider it a victory

[niyad]

5. who are the two turncoat dems who voted for it?

[BumRushDaShow]

10. They didn't need any Dems - they control the House w/238 Rs.

[yallerdawg]

13. They didn't.

It was unanimous Democratic opposition.

[niyad]

14. okay, thanks. I had read earlier that two dems were voting for it.

[mainer]

19. There WERE two Dems with yes votes in the tally

but either that was an error in the NYT site, or those Dems changed their votes.

[yallerdawg]

24. They changed before time expired.

They're Congresspersons!

We can expect a couple at least to push the wrong button!

[niyad]

29. thanks for the much-needed laugh!!

[mainer]

16. Two Dems were briefly in the "Yes" vote column. That was later reversed

Apparently, during the course of voting, you were allowed to change your vote. I know one of them was a Dem from Texas.

[Javaman]

6. if it passed by such a razor thin margin in the house, it will die in the senate. nt

[msongs]

7. Jesus loves the little children...unless they are sick nt

[OneCrazyDiamond]

8. .

[bucolic_frolic]

12. America is winning

when the weak, the frail, the poor, are left to die?

How unChristian, and inhumane.

Euthanizing cats has more compassion to it.

[greatauntoftriplets]

15. Shit.

[wasupaloopa]

17. They have to have no conscience or empathy for people.

They know what is going to happen to people if the bill is enacted into law.

Just yesterday the AMA gave their assessment which I'm sure Ryan read.

I guess as long as Ayanna Rand is happy somewhere it is ok for people's Leto get sick and die for lack of health care.

[nitpicker]

18. More from The Hill

http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/331937-house-passes-obamacare-repeal

[Bernardo de La Paz]

20. List/link all the names of the elitist rich-lickers who voted for the bill, please.

They and the RepubliCONs will own this massive elephant dropping they dumped on their constituents.

Their constituents can be reminded frequently of what the Republicons stole from them.

[spooky3]

28. The list is on the NY Times' site.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

31. The list is available only to NYT subscribers and cookie dealers, therefore.

[spooky3]

54. I think anyone gets 8? 10? free articles per month, without subscribing.

[PoliticAverse]

34. Here is the vote...

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll256.xml

[Bernardo de La Paz]

35. Thanks!

[Stuart G]

48. Just a note: 20 Republicans voted ..N0...

I don't have a list of them. Just wanted to point that out

[PoliticAverse]

49. They needed 216 votes to pass and received 217 so there was only 1 spare vote to lose. n/t

[Xipe Totec]

21. Another Pyrrhic victory for the Trumpster. nt

[elmac]

22. Just displayed my big red Russian Flag

in by front bay window for all my tRump loving neighbors. President Putin has won another victory.

[Dawson Leery]

23. Republicans, worse than ISIS much worse.

[get the red out]

59. I agree

Because Trump has massive amounts of nukes at his disposal.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

25. tRump still does not know what is in ChumpCare 3.0 that just passed.

Nor do most of his supporters, many of who will be impacted negatively, if it ever passes the Senate.

[Stonepounder]

26. I take very little solace in the fact that according to Jesus they are all going to Hell.

Matthew 25:42-44 -


42 For I was hungry, and ye fed me not; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into life eternal.

[Jake Stern]

27. Excellent ad ideas:

- Portray vulnerable representatives as "the deciding vote to deny you healthcare"
- Link senators in purple states like Cory Gardner to repeal CONSTANTLY from now until 2018 and 2020

[yallerdawg]

30. How many times have they "cast this vote in seven years"?

The Senate will at best modify it enough to kill it in a reconciliation vote back at the House.

This is just cover for their 11 day tax-payer funded "weekend" coming up!

And the Twit-in-Chief gets to go golfing again!

[BumRushDaShow]

41. Right

It has to go through a process and if the Senate in any way changes the House version, it's back to the drawing board.

The thing to look out for though is Turtle attempting a Unanimous Consent to pass the House version and someone would have to object to get the regular order process going. The other issue is whether they can do this by reconciliation given that the last amendment the House added involving $$$ might break the ability to do the simple majority in the Senate as that would affect a budget change. But since Turtle threw out filibusters for SCOTUS and claimed he wouldn't do that for legislation, we know it's a lie and he would probably do it just to seal his own fate.

[DeminPennswoods]

55. He won't get unanimous consent, that's for sure

Even though Dems are defending a lot of seats in 2018, this bill is so bad, no Dem or Independent senator will vote for it. Heller is vulnerable in 2018 in NV and probably isn't a lock to vote for it.

Then you have senators in states that have expanded Medicaid like Portman in OH and Toomey in PA.

[BumRushDaShow]

58. The "Unanimous Consent" bit

is a trick they often use to slide crap through without anyone knowing about it (although it is most used for innocuous things like post office namings, etc). They can (and have in the past) used it by calling for the motion at an odd hour on a day when everyone is leaving town.

I know it's obvious that most Democratic Senators would not vote for it but as a rule, "someone" must be present to "object" when (or if) the motion is made.

[DeminPennswoods]

63. I think the Dems will be wise to that trick.

If Dem senators have to take turns working the overnight shift, they will. Don't forget, the senate needs unanimous consent to operate for everything.

[BumRushDaShow]

64. Exactly!!

But still have to be on the lookout for Turtle's tricks.

[DeminPennswoods]

65. If McConnell were to think about doing this

if I were Schumer, I'd tell him, you will now need a roll call vote to conduct any business in the Senate at all. That is the real nuclear option.

[BumRushDaShow]

67. Schumer is definitely going to have to be glued to him. nt

[LovingA2andMI]

32. This Is WAR!!!

If The America Public Don't Vote These Devils Out Of Office In 2018, It's Time To Leave (At Least For Us As Canada Is Oh So Close) the USA!!!

[hibbing]

33. Disgusting n/t

[bullwinkle428]

36. Commander Orange Baboon will do an inevitable touchdown dance (tweet),

essentially believing that this is very close to being a done deal. Like in the next week or two.

[mr_lebowski]

43. They're just saying on the news here in AZ the Susan Collins will be a no but ...

That's the only reliable no among the 52 Rethugs ... only needs 51 to pass, right? Or is it 50?

Either way, believing this will necessarily die in the Senate is probably a pipe-dream, esp. if we need to peel off 3 KGOP senators to make it happen.

This very much is looking like it's RIP ACA ...

[Vinca]

51. I think Rand Paul is also opposed to it. Probably not mean enough for him.

[DeminPennswoods]

52. Senate GOP wants to use Reconcilliation

That means they only need 50+Pence. The Senate could strip the entire House bill language and insert its own, but that would mean the House would have to agree to the same exact language so the bill wouldn't have to go to conference committee. Figure the Senate would knock out the most odious provisions and then it's another question of which House Rs would vote for/against it.

[Stuart G]

45. Point of Info: ACA passed in 2010, ..219 to 212...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act

The House passed the Senate bill with a 219–212 vote on March 21, 2010, with 34 Democrats and all 178 Republicans voting against it. The next day, Republicans introduced legislation to repeal the bill. Obama signed ACA into law on March 23, 2010

[BumRushDaShow]

66. Have to add this too

(my mom used to always reference that little boy who was there to witness that, especially since he wore a suit similar to the President )

[Stuart G]

70. Thank You....Great Picture of President Obama signing the ACA.....nt...

[orangecrush]

53. Knew this was coming.

It is only going to get worse until Americans wake up.

[rtracey]

56. hmmm

As I stated last month or so when the right wing pulled the bill.....dont think its over. Its never going to be over never. it may pass here and senate, but the right wing will not be in power for ever, and things will change again and again and again......

[flotsam]

61. Hey WAPO-this doesn't "Fulfill" Jack!

He promised to repeal, not to attempt to repeal. The fact is he promised to repeal and replace it at least 68 times and several of those statements promised on "Day one". If and when it occurs you can talk fulfilling all you want but so far it's one more lying GOP fuck-up. And because I deal in facts, here's a list of 68 times he made the promise:

https://thinkprogress.org/trump-promised-to-repeal-obamacare-many-times-ab9500dad31e

[truthisfreedom]

68. Vote him out! Vote him out! Vote him out!

Vote him out! Vote him out! Vote him out! Vote him out! Vote him out! Vote him out! Vote him out! Vote him out! Vote him out! Vote him out! Vote him out! Vote him out! Vote him out! Vote him out! Vote him out! Vote him out! Vote him out! Vote him out! Vote him out! Vote him out! Vote him out! Vote him out! Vote him out! Vote him out!

[onit2day]

71. From Steve Benen at the Maddow blog

1. Donald Trump vowed, “We’re going to have insurance for everybody…. Everybody’s going to be taken care of.” The Congressional Budget Office, scrutinizing an earlier version of the GOP legislation, projected that the ranks of the uninsured would grow by 14 million by next year, and that number would expand to 24 million by 2026. There’s no new CBO score, but by most estimates, the new total is expected to be even higher.

2. Trump promised, “I’m not going to cut Medicare or Medicaid.” The Republican slashes Medicaid by hundreds of billions of dollars.

3. Trump insisted the Republican plan would cover consumers with “much lower deductibles.” While the CBO report points to a range of cost changes, based largely on age, it also found millions of Americans would pay higher deductibles.

4. Trump vowed the GOP policy would offer “lower premiums” for consumers. The Republican plan would actually raise premiums considerably.

5. The House Republican leadership assured the public, in writing, “Americans should never be denied coverage or charged more because of a pre-existing condition.” The version of the GOP bill that passed today would gut protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions.

6. Trump “guaranteed” that pre-existing-conditions protections are “are in the bill,” because he personally “mandated” it. The protections aren’t in the bill.

7. Paul Ryan vowed the Republican approach will make sure that “no one is left out in the cold” and “no one is worse off.” Tens of millions of Americans will be worse off if the GOP plan becomes law.

8. HHS Secretary Tom Price vowed that “nobody will be worse off financially” as a result of the Republican plan. That might be funnier now if it weren’t so sad.

9. Price said the GOP plan “will, in fact, cover more individuals than are currently covered.” This is, of course, the opposite of the truth, and even most Republicans have backed away from this kind of rhetoric.

10. Trump said his approach to health care would “end [the] opioid epidemic in America” and “dramatically expand access to treatment slots.” The opposite appears to be true."-Benen
I say Trump has become the mos hated man in America along with Lyin' Ryan and the rest of these teapublicans