Dear Joe Biden: we scrapped the public option to get Republican votes.

[pnwmom]

And to get Joe Lieberman's, Independent.

Lieberman voted for the option-less ACA, but how many of those "awful lot of good Republicans " you say are in Congress -- and you claim to have successfully worked with under ***Obama*** -- actually voted for Obamacare?

ZERO.

You successfully helped the R's hammer out -- and pass -- how many amendments? (Dozens.) All this in a laudable effort to pass bipartisan legislation.

Trump wasn't around then, so who was "intimidating" all of them to fight the ACA?

You're a good guy, Joe Biden, but Congress has very very few, if any, good Republicans. And not a single one of them helped us pass Obama's single most important legislation.

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/457838-biden-theres-an-awful-lot-of-really-good-republicans-out-there?fbclid=IwAR2YapTkkTnsmOarPkNLHceXrxg05MmZ_rKkiQ7wkzoCuK58IazKN_S6X2w

White House hopeful Joe Biden doubled down on his vow to cooperate with Republicans should he be elected president, saying he successfully worked across the aisle as vice president.

“There’s an awful lot of really good Republicans out there,” he said Saturday at a Massachusetts fundraiser. “I get in trouble for saying that with Democrats, but the truth of the matter is, every time we ever got in trouble with our administration, remember who got sent up to Capitol Hill to fix it? Me. Because they know I respect the other team.”

Biden added that many conservatives are being “intimidated” to follow in lockstep with President Trump.

“They’re decent people. They ran because they care about things, but they’re intimidated right now,” he told the fundraiser’s attendees.

https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2017/mar/16/luis-gutierrez/rep-gutierrez-says-hundreds-republican-amendments-/

It’s worth noting that many facets of the Republican’s health care agenda at the time made it into the Affordable Care Act. The Affordable Care Act was a private market plan, and it dropped a long-held Democratic priority to include a public option.

In the end, no Senate or House Republicans voted for the Affordable Care Act in its final version.

[polichick]

1. Today's RepubliCONs: traitors, mercenaries, cowards...

It’s a problem if a leader, not only doesn’t understand the enemy, but doesn’t recognize the enemy.

[SamKnause]

2. Agree.

[Dorn]

5. Right

It is amazing that Biden, having been around politics for so long, does not recognize that they are. Could he be a quisling?

[Deb]

3. There is a big world outside that stinking beltway.

Yeah, this country has plenty of good Republicans and I have faith they will do the right thing. Many have told me so.

[pangaia]

9. ".. I have faith they will do the right thing. " Many have told me so,

How many ?

WHEN .. will they do THE RIGHT THING?

[tecelote]

13. Yes.

The "Good Republicans" I see are just not saying anything. Never mind doing the right thing.

Maybe they don't like Trump but they are not standing up to him.

[Merlot]

22. The beltway is where all the republicans that matter are...in the senate.

Have they told you they will do the right thing? And did you think to ask them what they consider the "right" thing? As it appears right now, doing the right thing to republicans means defending the lawlessness of the president at all costs to get their agenda.

Since republicans think putting kids in cages is the right thing, they are far removed from what is actually right.

[oasis]

4. Republicans who reject Biden's move America forward plan,

risk getting a 2022 rejection from voters. Joe will have a mandate by the people. What Joe says, goes.

Voters are sick of the zero accomplisment record of the Pro-Gridlock lobby.

[still_one]

6. We didn't have the voters, and it just wasn't Lieberman

"In 2008 and 2009 we didn't have the votes to pass a public option or Medicare for All
There was Blanche Lincoln, Lieberman, Nelson in Florida, Nelson in Nebraska, Evan Bayh in Indiana, and I believe Mark Pryor.

Contrary to what some like to project, we didn't have the votes, and there was NOT ONE republican who was willing to vote for any healthcare package with the Democrats, let alone one with a public option or Medicare for all

Here are the facts:

"Here is how much control we had in 2008-2009:

"Obama had control of the House from 2009-2011, but guess what, legislation does NOT become law without the Senate

The Senate operates with the 60-vote-requirement filibuster rule. Total control of the Senate requires 60 votes.

In January 2009, Democrats had 57 seats, with Sanders and Liberman caucusing with the Democrats for 59 votes.

That 59 included both Kennedy and Franken. Franken was not officially seated until July 2009, and Kennedy had a seizure in January 2009, and never returned to the Senate to vote, so the actual number was 55 plus two independents which makes 57.

It was during that time that President Obama was able to pass a stimulus package, but only because 3 republicans, Collins, Snowe, and Specter voted to break a filibuster guaranteeing its passage

In April 2009, Specter became a Democrat, Kennedy was still at home too ill, and Franken was still not seated in April. In May 2009, Byrd got sick, and didn't return to the Senate until July 2, 2009, and Democrats still had only 59 votes Kennedy's seat was temporarily filled by Kirk, but not until Sept, 2009


It was then that Democrats had at least potentially 60 votes in the Senate, and it lasted all of 4 months, from Sept 24, 2009 through Feb. 4, 2010, at which point Scott Brown, a republican was sworn in to replace Kennedy

The only thing the Democrats had control of for two years was the House, and for only 4 months did we have total control of congress, and it was during that small time frame that the ACA was passed"

vhttps://www.ohio.com/article/20120909/NEWS/309099447

Within that four month time frame could President Obama have included a public option in the ACA, or Medicare for ALL?

Not likely. People seem to conveniently forget that there were blue dog Democrats
who made it very clear they would not vote for a public option or Medicare for All. They were Blanche Lincoln, Lieberman, Nelson in Florida, Nelson in Nebraska, and I believe Mark Pryor. Contrary to what some like to project, we didn't have the votes, and there was NOT ONE republican who was willing to vote for any healthcare package with the Democrats, let alone one with a public option or Medicare for all

For those who think trashing the ACA, which was landmark legislation on healthcare, is good "political strategy", should perhaps put things in perspective, and instead tell us what you would do.

In the coming weeks or months we will see what happens.



But if you want to ignore Nelson in Florida, Nelson in Nebraska, Lincoln, Pryor, Lieberman, etc who made it clear they would NOT vote for a public option, but I suggest you read the link to appreciate what was happening then

Based on your criteria I would assume you expect every Democratic candidate to trash registered republicans, because that makes such good political sense



No Democratic candidate will run on that by the way

[elocs]

29. An inconvenient truth well explained.

The Medicare for All supporters never seem to be able to give a rational explanation as to how it will become law but just that it will magically happen because they really, really want it to be.
But MfA will not happen soon, maybe not for many years if ever yet it's held out as a real possibility for the near future and that's just dishonest. Also, it seems it's MfA or nothing, no plan B to help people now.

[still_one]

30. The fact is it wasn't just the republicans, there were enough blue dog Democrats who would not go

for the public option at the time. We didn't have the votes.

Using the "public option" as an excuse to say we should not try to work with the opposition party is closing one's mind to how legislation gets passed.

Also the fact that is NOT mentioned is that there is NOT ONE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE running for President who will campaign that they will not try to work with the opposition party, and I don't think we will see ANY of our Democratic candidates criticizing Biden this.

There are plenty of substantive issues they can debate Biden on, but in my view this is not one of them.

[treestar]

34. True and they will end up "disappointed in President Warren"

when it does not happen, because the Senate is not likely to have enough non-blue Dog Ds to pass it.

[Recursion]

59. And if we want to take the Senate back that means recruiting blue dogs

It's funny how everybody claims to love the 50 state strategy but hates the Democrats it actually elects.

[pnwmom]

36. The point remains: Biden, despite his claims of being able to work across the aisle,

couldn't get a single Republican to vote for Obamacare, even though the Democrats accepted dozens of Republican amendments.

So why should we expect they'll be any more likely to work in a bipartisan fashion in the future?

[Life_Long_Democrat]

37. Is there someone who will work with the Republicans any better than Biden?

[pnwmom]

38. Doubtful. So that shouldn't be anyone's selling point.

We need to go all out on turnout to get the Senate -- and then change the rules as Reid and Inslee suggested. The filibuster is past its sell-by date.

[Life_Long_Democrat]

40. But what if Dems don't win the Senate?

[pnwmom]

42. We still won't be able to work with the R's because they will be energized. n/t

[Life_Long_Democrat]

43. Maybe/Maybe not nt

[PatrickforO]

41. I'm tempted to give him a pass on this one because as you know,

Republican leaders met at a DC steakhouse the night of O's inauguration and agreed to oppose EVERYTHING he did in lock step. And, owing to the discipline that party has in rank and file, they carried this out at nearly 100% during the 8 years O was in office.

I don't think anyone could have gotten any Republican votes in the face of that.

[busterbrown]

7. Wow... another Biden play..

I think he's just playing the Repubs..kinda... "just because you supported and elected Trump doesn't mean I don't respect you and I will work with you"
It's Bullshit and Joe knows it!! Keep playing them Joe. It won't work with the nuts.. but those who are beginning to sway from our Idiot Prez? Perhaps?

[Garrett78]

12. Agreed. "It's bullshit and Joe knows it." Spot-on. It's a tactic, and arguably a wise one.

[Vegas Roller]

18. +1000

It seems like all astute people figured it out as a political ploy to not appear divisive and partisan to middle America including independents who form a far bigger voting block than the ultra left Biden attackers her because Biden is leading their sacred divine candidate.

American people at large are sick of the partisan battling and this plays to that audience beautifully.

[emmaverybo]

28. The American public is like the neighbors next door who hear fireworks every night from the

Bickersons. They are beyond caring who started it or why. They just want it to stop. At this point, in fact, they blame both.

So when one of the Bickersons goes on a rant, demonizing the other, swearing never to deal, neighbors shake their heads and say “See. They are both impossible.”

Biden has it just right. But then he’s a seasoned politician.

[pangaia]

8. if they are being intimidated, they are NOT decent people. They are cowards and traitors...

And they "care about things.."

it is WHAT things that matter...



PS I did NOT read the entire link

[List left]

10. Republican version of working together..

one for you one for me, two for you one two for me, three for you one two three for me (and I was just kidding about three for you)

If they do not negotiate in good faith we cannot concede ground.
Obama is a wonderful man but not a good negotiator. We must learn this lesson or we will lose what little we have left.

[zentrum]

11. Thank you pnwmom!

It's like Biden is pining for a time that never was.

Doesn't he remember Mitch saying his number one job was to block every item on Obama's agenda? Doesn't he remember when they shut down the government to block Obama?

[MarcA]

14. At best just a political ploy.

Compromising on procedures and programs is one thing; compromising
on principle is another. Actions speak louder than words.

[DallasNE]

15. What Does Biden Mean By Republicans Being Intimidated To Follow In Lock Step With Trump

What is the difference between being in lock step with Trump and being in lock step with McConnell when Biden was VP? Follow the money. It's always about Citizens United money. How many times does that have to be hammered home. America is broken and can't be fixed until Citizens United is gone by whatever means. That is why the party has to be rebuilt from the bottom up. Until then there is no reaching across the aisle. Gingrich then Citizens United killed that off.

[KPN]

16. Exactly. If Biden is just "playing" R and R leaning

voters as some suggested upthread, he’s totally lost me in the process.

Will I vote for him if he is our nominee? Absolutely ... and I also hope he isn’t.

[mudstump]

17. Biden has been hoodwinked...or maybe he just agrees with republicans most of the time.

Biden slogan....Elect me and essentially nothing will change.

[MarcA]

19. Whether it's true of Biden or not, some Ds

aren't opposed to the $$$ establishment.

[LonePirate]

26. There is some hoodwinking going on, but I don't think he is the victim of it here.

[treestar]

33. a lot will change by being repaired

let's not pretend the Orange Menace would not do far worse, and has done worse. The only reason Biden is running is to use his experience to fix the damage the Orange Menace has caused. As Biden said, it's do nothing or have the revolution for real.

[Ligyron]

20. Those people are long gone Joe.

Other people from that era should be too don't cha think?

[Merlot]

21. How Biden can say there are "good republicans" out there after seeing

first hand how they tried to sabatoge Obama at every step is beyond me.

Yes, you will get in trouble with democrats for saying this, because we saw it, and we remember it.

If this is part of a political strategy to get republicans to vote for Biden in 2020, throwing democrts under the bus for the idea (not the reality) of getting a few republican votes is the worst possible direction to go. Any candidate will need an enthusiastic base or they won't get anywhere.

[DrToast]

23. The public option was not a "long-held Democratic priority"

Good lord the revisionist history is out of control sometime. Obama never even campaigned on a public option.

[pnwmom]

24. On his campaign website, Obama promised a public option. So it's not accurate

to say he never campaigned on it. His official website represented him.

https://thinkprogress.org/flashback-obama-repeatedly-touted-public-option-before-refusing-to-push-for-it-in-the-final-hours-380cbf31b6e0/

“I didn’t campaign on the public option,” President Obama told the Washington Post. But he touted the public option on his campaign website and spoke frequently in support of it during the first year of his presidency, citing its essential value in holding the private insurance industry accountable and providing competition:

— In the 2008 Obama-Biden health care plan on the campaign’s website, candidate Obama promised that “any American will have the opportunity to enroll in [a] new public plan.” [2008]

— During a speech at the American Medical Association, President Obama told thousands of doctors that one of the plans included in the new health insurance exchanges “needs to be a public option that will give people a broader range of choices and inject competition into the health care market.” [6/15/09]


— While speaking to the nation during his weekly address, the President said that “any plan” he signs “must include…a public option.” [7/17/09]

[DrToast]

25. The links to the website are dead

However, it’s a stretch to say it was “a long-held Democratic priority” if nobody was pushing for it until 2008.

[tirebiter]

27. The problem was Lieberman

As much a Democrat as Sanders. I remember it well.

[treestar]

31. As I remember at the time, there were even Democrats

who would not go for the public option, in the Senate. The public option was not going to pass the Senate because of Democrats of the Blue Dog variety. And Lieberman was the most responsible for that.

[pnwmom]

32. Lieberman the Independent is the only one I heard about.

He had left the party by the time that vote came up.

[treestar]

35. He was the 60th vote

and the blue dogs were even less than that. Someone lists them upthread.

[Demsrule86]

51. It also wouldn't pass the house.

[treestar]

56. I had thought the public option was in the House bill

and it was the Senate that wouldn't agree to vote on it.

[honest.abe]

39. The Obamacare situation was about as polarized as you could possibly get.

President Obama was in his first year and no Republicans trusted him yet thinking he might be some kind of terrorist in hiding or fake American from Kenya so anything that he was pushing was certainly going to be an uphill battle. Plus the fact RW media had demonized the ACA with non-stop false and misleading reporting of the legislation. Republican voters hated it with a passion. Its not surprising no Rs voted for it. They would have been run out of town by their constituents.

Furthermore there were some bipartisan success stories during Obama/Biden era albeit just a few votes but those votes turned out to be critical to passage. Here are some examples:

The Recovery Act – the economic stimulus law that blunted the recession – only passed after Obama accepted the demand from three Senate Republicans to reduce the size of the package by about $100 billion, mostly by paring back spending proposals. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform bill also squeaked through the Senate with three Republican votes. Obama sealed the deal after making a key concession to newly elected Massachusetts Republican Sen. Scott Brown, scrapping an outright ban on commercial banks investing in high-risk funds in favor of allowing limited investments.

In his second term, Obama withstood the civil libertarian outcry that followed the Edward Snowden leaks and shaped a bipartisan surveillance reform law – supported by more than three out of every four House Republicans -- that made some small concessions to privacy advocates without hindering the National Security Agency’s core counter-terrorism work.

Obama had several other bipartisan successes in which he kept a low profile during the legislative process, allowing Republicans to cross the aisle without seeming like they were doing him a political favor. The Pentagon and a bipartisan duo of Sens. Joe Lieberman and Susan Collins took the lead on repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” winning over eight Senate Republicans for the final vote in the lame-duck 2010 session. Around the same time, a major food safety bill, designed to give the Food & Drug Administration more power to recall tainted goods, cleared the Senate by voice votes and picked up 10 House Republicans.

Earlier in 2010, a bill to reduce the racially discriminatory disparity in mandatory prison sentences between crack and powder cocaine convictions, flew through both houses of Congress on voice votes. In 2015, Obama let the House Republican and Democratic leaders spearhead a revamp of how Medicare reimburses physicians, moving toward a system where payments are based on quality of care instead of quantity of procedures.

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2017/01/16/obamas_unsung_bipartisan_legacy_132798.html

[pnwmom]

44. It shouldn't have been, since Obamacare was basically the Republican bill that

Rep. Mitt Romney signed in Masssachusetts.

[Hekate]

46. Romneycare was okay in one state with a Repub governor. But when "that Kenyan" had the audacity...

...to propose it as a national plan, it was suddenly anathema.

Like the humiliation of Obama's final SCOTUS nominee, that is on the GOP and not on Obama, Biden, or the Dems generally.

Mitch McConnell is so toxic he should be a Superfund site.

[Demsrule86]

49. +1000

[honest.abe]

47. Well we all know that story and how little that meant to the Republicans.

That fact that is was linked to President Obama it suddenly became evil, no matter how similar the legislation.

[Demsrule86]

50. Not as other posters pointed out and most her know when it became Obama's plan.

[Hekate]

45. Ah, those joyous days. Dems could have held the high ground & written a fantastic bill...

...incorporating every single thing we wanted (and still want). And then that bill would have failed on a 100% party-line vote.

Or (and this is what actually happened) we could recognize that the perfect is the enemy of the good, and make a bunch of sometimes distasteful compromises, and get the job done. We got a lot out of it, and it is not our side's fault that the GOP across the nation has spent every day since trying to destroy it. That is not on the Dems.

Certain candidates for President are convinced the presidency is all-powerful and if they are elected they will wave a magic pen and grant our every health care wish. Really? They can do that? Then why haven't all the Dem presidents before them been able to? Gods know they tried.

[theaocp]

52. Certain candidates like to tell us there's nothing we can't accomplish as Americans and then

tell us all the things we can't have/do. Even better, it's because of Republicans, but we can't name them, because then they'd be "pilloried/primaried" and later, we can get these fucking cowards to suddenly work for America again. Whatthefuckever. Fuck Republicans and figure out if we can do things as Americans or we can't.

[Hekate]

53. 'Scuse me?

Oh, okay. Just tell it to Moscow Mitch, a man so toxic and corrupt he should be a Superfund site.

[theaocp]

55. I keep hoping he'll have the stroke he so clearly deserves, but gawd ignores this atheist. n/t

[Demsrule86]

48. Dear PNWMOM...we scrapped the public option because we didn't have enough votes of

Democrats and Joe Liberman...not one Republican voted for it and Nancy Pelosi lost the house to save millions of lives by passing the ACA while not perfect was the first health care we ever had and led the way for people understanding that healthcare was a right...oh and it wasn't just the Senate...votes were not there in the house either.

[pnwmom]

57. The point is not one Republican voted for it though we accepted dozens of Republican amendments.

So why would anyone think that the R's will be willing to work across the aisle with the next Democratic President?

ON EDIT: The Democratic-led House DID pass a version with the public option, but the only choice after Kennedys death turned out to be for the House to approve the Senate version (without the public option) that Kennedy had voted for.

https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2010.0363

Although present in several interim bills and in legislation passed in November 2009 by the House of Representatives, the public option was omitted from the legislation passed by the Senate in December 2009 and from the final package adopted by both houses in March 2010.

[Demsrule86]

61. There were not enough Democrats to vote for the public option...it was unlikely to pass

the house in a second vote and the votes in the Senate were never there...we had conservadems then. We almost got a public option for those 55 and over but Lieberman reneged on the deal. Consider had we not primaryed Lieberman, we probably would have gotten a public option... Many good Democrats lost the next election particulary in the house due to the ACA,. Had the left had theirs and Obama's back, it might have been different.

The were was no way to get public option and had we gone for it, we would not have gotten the ACA which as Biden said is" a big fucking deal". We can build on it-get universal coverage, and it changed the American people's perspective on healthcare. Most now see it as a right not a privilege...we won the 18 mid-terms because of the ACA in red and purple areas. It is seriously F'd up to take something great and twist it into a negative. The ACA was a godsend and saved millions of lives. Kudos to Obama, Biden, the house and the Senate(Dems)
for getting it done at great personal cost.

Please note after we lost the conservadems, we have little hope for a senate majority...we are big tent, when we forget this and run left we lose. This is a center left country which is a damn shame.

[pnwmom]

62. No, Lieberman NEVER supported a public option. Primarying him had nothing to do with it.

I agree about the Senate but the House had already voted for a public option bill. The plan was to have the bills go to conference committee. There, the sides were going to agree on the public option that was in the House bill, and there's no reason to think the HOUSE would have not voted for it then. The problem came with the Senate.

But this doesn't change the bottom line. NOT A SINGLE Republican voted for the public option, despite all of Biden's negotiating and best efforts -- and despite the dozens of Republican amendments the Democrats accepted. The R's decided in January 2009 that their only legislative agenda was to obstruct every piece of legislation put forward by Obama and to make him a one-term President. So I see no reason to think that the R's will have a change of heart in 2021.

I agree about the need for protecting more conservative Democrats. That's a separate issue.

[Demsrule86]

66. Yes he did ...a deal was brokered where a public option would be used for those over 55 but he

It is ridiculous to blame Biden for the lack of a public option...Democrats were not on board and Obama and Biden got something no one else ever did or could...health care. We never had the votes and barely got the ACA through...I am grateful for that...saved my kid's life. It is the only health care we are likely to have as MFA will not pass anytime soon if ever. We should stop f'ing around with MFA and support the ACA...work to improve it...make the GOP pay for opposing fixes and improvements...run on it...because running on MFA will cost us the general and maybe the house Please quit blaming Biden for stuff that was not his fault...it also is kind of an attack on pres. Obama and not fair...the votes were not there period end of story...we got what we could and anything else would have doomed the ACA...which has save millions of lives.


"As we go to press, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is one of twenty-two Democrats whom Dr. Dean has identified as undecided or opponents of a public insurance plan. Names are posted on Dean’s website: http://standwithdrdean.com.
On the list with Reid are: Max Baucus (MT), Evan Bayh (IN), Mark Begich (AK), Michael Bennet (CO), Robert Byrd (WV), Maria Cantwell (WA), Thomas Carper (DE), Kent Conrad (ND), Byron Dorgan (ND), Dianne Feinstein (CA), Kay Hagan (NC), Herbert Kohl (WI), Mary Landrieu (LA), Blanche Lincoln (AR), Ben Nelson (NE), Bill Nelson (FL), Mark Pryor (AR), Jon Tester (MT), Mark Udall (CO), Mark Warner (VA), and Ron Wyden (OR).

Connecticut Independent Joe Lieberman, who caucuses with the Democrats, also opposes the public option."

https://washingtonspectator.org/will-health-care-reform-survive-summer-in-the-senate/

[pnwmom]

67. I'm not blaming Biden at all. I'm blaming the REPUBLICANS. How many times do I have to say

the same thing? NOT A SINGLE REPUBLICAN voted for the ACA, even though we let them amend it to suit them over and over and over.

And I'm saying people who think the R's will change and want to work with the next Democratic President are deluding themselves.

And any Democratic candidate who promises to be able to successfully work with Mitch McConnell is promising what he or she can't deliver. The only one who can work with Moscow Mitch is Putin. We have to take the Senate with a substantial majority, and then work around the R's, like we did for that 4 month period in Obama's administration. But we can't expect they will be cooperating. They will be fighting us tooth and nail.

[Demsrule86]

68. We wasted time on the Grassley hearings for sure...and then Ted Kennedy was sick and the asshat

from Mass won...the pin up guy...Scot Brown right? I don't disagree. You have to try and saying you will work with the other side is part of campaigning. Given Biden was on Pres. Obama's team,he knows the score.

[Andy823]

60. I think that is the point

"...not one Republican voted for it..."

Things are even worse now, not one republican has stood up to trump when it comes to taking children from their parents, when it comes to kissing up to Putin, when it comes to his racial remarks about members of congress, about telling those same members of congress to go back to where they came from, and the fact is they won't, no matter what he does, or says.

They also won't stand up to Mitch while he refuses to vote on any bill sent to the Senate from the House.

Can you honestly say that Democrats can "work" with republicans, or that the republicans in the House and Senate are "good" people we can work with?

[lagomorph777]

54. Cooperating with Republicans is like kissing a Komodo Dragon.

You die a slow horrible death and then get eaten.

[Bettie]

58. Yes it is

it is also an eternal game where we are Charlie Brown and they are Lucy, thinking "This time it will work".

[Amimnoch]

63. And the ACA was the only bill passed in President Obama's 8 years?

It was his signature campaign legislation. No surprise at all that Republicans would have been pure obstruction on it. Not entirely unlike our universal opposition to Trumps stupid ass wall.

EVERY bill that did pass after 2011 was done with bipartisan support as we no longer had the majority in both chambers of Congress after that point.

Even before 2011, the Dodd Frank Wall Street reform bill managed to squeak by with 3 Republican senate votes.

It was carefully crafted to allow Republicans to do so without a spotlight being shone upon them, but the repeal of Don’t Ask/Don’t tell in 2010 had Senator Collins and 8 other Republicans crossing over to support.

Unless we do manage to take back the Senate in 2020 (Possible, but not at all the most likely outcome given the map) anyone who takes a hard stance against working with Republicans will get NOTHING done. Result will place the 2020 Senate map (one that actually favors us at this time) in jeopardy, and very possibly end up making our candidate a 1 term president like hopefully we will make Cheetolini.

[pnwmom]

64. What significant legislation, other than budget bills, passed after the ACA?

I'm not saying anyone should take a hard stance against working with R's. But I think we're deluding ourselves if we think they're going to be any more willing to work with our new President than they were with Obama. And with him they decided before he even took office to do their best to obstruct everything he put forward.

[Amimnoch]

65. They sure did.

And they did some REALLY shitty moves as well.. especially Moscow Mitch. the ONLY way to stop that.. Keep the House, and reclaim the Senate and the Presidency.

One good article on some of the highlights that were still actually able to be accomplished:
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2017/01/16/obamas_unsung_bipartisan_legacy_132798.html

Some of the other items that managed to get passed during that timeframe that did push some progress (admittedly some of these did have things in them given as concessions that made them less than ideal, but when we don't control all 3, it's that or nothing at all):

S.47 — Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013
H.R.360 — To award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal to Addie Mae
Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley to commemorate the lives they lost 50 years ago in the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, where these 4 little Black girls' ultimate sacrifice served as a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement.
S.622 — Animal Drug and Animal Generic Drug User Fee Reauthorization Act of 2013
H.R.1911 — Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act of 2013
H.R.2094 — School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act
S.330 — HIV Organ Policy Equity Act
H.R.3204 — Drug Quality and Security Act
H.R.623 — Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Land Transfer Act
H.R.3370 — Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014
H.R.4302 — Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014
S.1557 — Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2013
April 16, 2015: Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015
December 10, 2015: Every Student Succeeds Act
October 7, 2016: Sexual Assault Survivors' Rights Act