Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Pelosi: "Republicans continuing to bay at the moon"

On Tuesday, the House Republicans voted for the 56th time to overturn, or otherwise undermine, President Obama's Affordable Care Act.

The vote was 239 to 186.   Three Republicans and all the Democrats voted against it.

Rep. Steve King (R-IA) explained the reason for the vote:   to give the newly elected representatives the chance to vote against Obamacare.   Older members have done so numerous times;    but it is apparently a rite of passage somehow to be given the opportunity to prove their contempt . . . I would say, for the American people.

The truth is that the ACA is a resounding success, as described by Michael McAuliff on the Huffington Post:   "10 million newly insured Americans, the slowest inflation of health costs and premiums since the 1960s and a strengthened Medicaid system, all while the economy in 2014 showed the best jobs growth since 1999."

Unlike many of the previous bills, the one passed on Tuesday would require four congressional committees to come up with a replacement plan within six months. 

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi was not impressed.   As she said:  “We have the Republicans continuing to bay at the moon. . . .  Instead of proposing any . . .  good suggestions they may have to improve the Affordable Care Act, they're baying at the moon.”

Like the 55 previous bills, this one will not pass the Senate, where Democrats can prevent getting the 60 votes needed to advance the bill to floor debate.   And President Obama will veto it, if it should somehow get passed.

Ralph

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